Baku, Sept. 24, 2025
Azerbaijan’s basketball club Absheron Lions made a confident start to their European campaign, defeating Cyprus’ Anorthosis 89-73 in the first leg of the FIBA Europe Cup qualifying round.
The game, played at the Baku Sports Palace, showcased a balanced performance under head coach Erhan Toker, with the Lions controlling the tempo from the early quarters and never relinquishing the lead.
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The win gives the Azerbaijani side a solid cushion ahead of the return match in Limassol on October 1, where the aggregate winner will advance to the next stage of the tournament.
This marks the Lions’ debut in the competition, underlining Azerbaijan’s growing presence on the European basketball stage.


