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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Samsunspor, after a 27-year absence, has returned to European competitions and has been drawn against KF Shkendija, the representative of North Macedonia, in the round of 16 play-off of the 2025-2026 UEFA Conference League. This two-leg elimination round will be the club’s 19th match in European competition. The first leg will be played away on 19 February 2026.
Samsunspor advanced to the round of 16 play-off after finishing 12th in the UEFA Conference League group stage. The red-and-white team played six matches in the group phase, securing three wins, one draw and two losses. During this period, they scored 26 goals and conceded 20.
Their opponent in the play-off round is KF Shkendija of North Macedonia. The first match will take place on 19 February 2026 at 23:00 at the Todor Proeski Stadium in Skopje. The match will be officiated by Norwegian referee Rohit Saggi.
This match will be Samsunspor’s 19th appearance in European competitions.
Prior to the play-off round, Samsunspor appointed a new head coach. Thomas Reis departed the club and was replaced by German coach Thorsten Fink, with whom a contract for one and a half years was signed. The match against Shkendija will be Fink’s first official match in charge of the team.
The match represents the team’s first test on the European stage following the coaching change.
Due to competition regulations, Cherif Ndiaye, who was ineligible to play during the group stage, has been added to the UEFA list along with winter transfer signings Jaures Assoumou and goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat.
Elayis Tavşan and Yalçın Kayan remain ineligible due to registration rules, while Emre Kılınç, Tanguy Coulibaly and Afonso Sousa will be absent due to injuries.
KF Shkendija entered European competition through the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. After passing the first two rounds, they were eliminated by Qarabağ in the third qualifying round. They then competed against Ludogorets in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers and were eliminated on away goals after extra time, which earned them a place in the Conference League group stage.
Shkendija: Gaye, Murati, Fetai, Meljichi, Webster, Ramadani, Alhassan, Spahiu, Zejnulai, Mazari, Ibraimi.
Samsunspor: Okan, Zeki, Satka, Van Drongelen, Soner, Makoumbou, Holse, Celil, Ntcham, Assoumou, Mouandilmadji.
Samsunspor competed in the Intertoto Cup during the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons. In 1996-1997, they defeated Odense, Kaunas and Leiftur but were eliminated by Hamburg. In 1997-1998, they advanced past Lyngby and Crystal Palace to reach the semifinals, where they were eliminated by Werder Bremen.
KF Shkendija - Samsunspor match infographic (AA)
In the 2025-2026 season, Samsunspor faced Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League play-off round. They lost 2-1 away and drew 0-0 at home. They subsequently entered the Conference League group stage.
In the group stage, they defeated Legia Warsaw 1-0 away, and beat Dinamo Kiev and Hamrun Spartans 3-0. They drew 2-2 with Breidablik and suffered defeats against AEK and Mainz 05.
With these results, they finished 12th in the league phase and advanced to the round of 16 play-off.
The return leg will be played in Samsun.
Prior to the first leg of the UEFA Conference League round of 16 play-off, press conferences were held in Skopje, with statements from both Samsunspor and Shkendija.
Samsunspor head coach Thorsten Fink (AA)
Thorsten Fink noted that he had only recently taken charge and had conducted just two training sessions with the team. He stated that he is the third German head coach to lead Samsunspor in succession, following Markus Gisdol and Thomas Reis.
Fink expressed satisfaction with the team’s work discipline and said they have been working on fine-tuning details. He outlined their playing philosophy as focusing on ball possession, applying pressure and creating positional advantages in the final third. Referring to his European experience, Fink emphasized their desire to win the match, highlighted the quality of the squad and stressed the importance of the players believing in victory.
He underscored the importance of the result from the first leg before the return match and confirmed that the second leg will be played in Samsun.
Carlo Holse, present at the press conference, stated that the match against Shkendija could serve as an important beginning for a new era.
Shkendija head coach Jeton Bekjiri (AA)
Jeton Bekjiri drew attention to Samsunspor’s recent coaching change and suggested it could introduce unpredictable elements. He stated that his staff would analyze the new coach’s previous tactical approaches. Bekjiri assessed Samsunspor as the favorite in the tie and said his team aims to control possession and demonstrate their quality on the pitch. He emphasized that the return leg would be decisive.
Team captain Besart Ibraimi stated that they would face a tough challenge against Samsunspor.
Samsunspor, after 27 years, returned to European competitions and faced North Macedonia’s Shkendija in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League round of 16 play-off, away from home. The match was played at the National Arena Todor Proeski Stadium in Skopje. The encounter ended with Samsunspor leading 1-0.
Gaye, Murati, Fetai, Meliqi, Webster, Ramadani (67 min Krasniqi), Alhassan (46 min Islami), Tamba (90+3 min Jakupi), Spahiu (85 min Krstevski), Zejnullai, Ibraimi (67 min Ndzengue).
Okan Kocuk, Zeki Yavru, Satka, Van Drongelen, Tomasson, Makoumbou, Ntcham, Mendes, Assoumou (85 min Ceesay), Holse (90+3 min Celil Yüksel), Ndiaye (72 min Mouandilmadji).
Shkendija-Samsunspor starting lineups (AA)
Shkendija-Samsunspor first half (AA)
In the 5th minute, after Assoumou was brought down in the penalty area by Fetai, referee Rohit Saggi awarded a penalty. In the 7th minute, Cherif Ndiaye took the penalty but sent the ball over the crossbar.
In the 17th minute, following a pass from Zejnullai, Tamba entered the penalty area and fired a powerful shot, which goalkeeper Okan Kocuk saved in two quick actions.
In the 19th minute, Assoumou’s low shot from inside the penalty area was cleared by goalkeeper Gaye. In the 39th minute, Holse, receiving a pass from Makoumbou, found himself in a good position near the penalty spot but sent his shot over the crossbar. The first half ended goalless.
Shkendija-Samsunspor second half (AA)
In the 51st minute, Ibraimi dribbled past three defenders to enter the penalty area and fired a low shot that narrowly went wide. In the 54th minute, Assoumou’s powerful shot from inside the penalty area, following a pass from Ntcham, struck goalkeeper Gaye’s foot and rebounded back into play.
In the 77th minute, Samsunspor took the lead. Holse delivered a cross from the right flank onto the near post, and Mouandilmadji finished with an inside-of-the-foot shot that went past goalkeeper Gaye into the net.
In the 88th minute, Mouandilmadji, receiving a pass from Ntcham inside the penalty area, shot from just over the penalty spot but sent the ball over the crossbar.
The match ended with Samsunspor winning 1-0.
Thorsten Fink noted that this was his first official match as Samsunspor’s head coach and emphasized the importance of the victory. He stressed that the tie was not yet decided and that only the first leg had been won.
He stated that his team generally controlled the ball and delivered an effective performance in the final third. He mentioned that Ndiaye missed the penalty, that Mouandilmadji was brought on as a substitute, and that the team performed well defensively and in midfield.
Fink highlighted the significance of keeping a clean sheet and said that the result provided a valuable opportunity to advance to the next round.
Samsunspor Head Coach Thorsten Fink (AA)
Jeton Bekjiri acknowledged that his team faced a high-quality opponent. He admitted that Shkendija failed to deliver the performance they desired and could not capitalize on the chances they created.
He noted that in matches at this level, failure to convert chances often leads to defeat. He expressed the team’s aim to deliver a better performance in the return leg.
Shkendija Head Coach Jeton Bekjiri (AA)
The return leg of the play-off tie is scheduled to be played on Thursday, 26 February, in Samsun. If Samsunspor advances, they will face the winner of the Shakhtar Donetsk versus Rayo Vallecano tie.
Samsunspor, after a 27-year absence, has returned to European competitions and has been drawn against KF Shkendija, the representative of North Macedonia, in the round of 16 play-off of the 2025-2026 UEFA Conference League. The two-legged tie will be the club’s 19th match in European competition. The first leg will be played away on 19 February 2026.
Samsunspor advanced to the round of 16 play-off after finishing 12th in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League. The red-and-white team played six matches in the group phase, securing three wins, one draw, and two losses. During this period, they scored 26 goals and conceded 20.
Their opponent in the play-off round is KF Shkendija of North Macedonia. The first match will take place on 19 February 2026 at 23:00 at the Todor Proeski Stadium in Skopje. The match will be officiated by Norwegian referee Rohit Saggi.
This match will be Samsunspor’s 19th appearance in European competitions.
Prior to the play-off round, Samsunspor appointed a new head coach. Thomas Reis departed the club, and German coach Thorsten Fink signed a one-and-a-half-year contract. The match against Shkendija will be Fink’s first official game in charge of the team.
The match represents the team’s first test on the European stage following the coaching change.
Due to eligibility rules in the group stage, Cherif Ndiaye was not eligible to play and has now been added to the UEFA list alongside winter transfer signings Jaures Assoumou and goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat.
Elayis Tavşan and Yalçın Kayan remain ineligible due to registration rules, while Emre Kılınç, Tanguy Coulibaly, and Afonso Sousa will be absent due to injuries.
KF Shkendija entered European competition through the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. After passing the first two rounds, they were eliminated by Qarabağ in the third qualifying round. They then competed against Ludogorets in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers but were eliminated on away goals in extra time, earning a place in the Conference League group stage.
Shkendija: Gaye, Murati, Fetai, Meljichi, Webster, Ramadani, Alhassan, Spahiu, Zejnulai, Mazari, Ibraimi.
Samsunspor: Okan, Zeki, Satka, Van Drongelen, Soner, Makoumbou, Holse, Celil, Ntcham, Assoumou, Mouandilmadji.
Samsunspor competed in the Intertoto Cup during the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons. In 1996-1997, they defeated Odense, Kaunas, and Leiftur but were eliminated by Hamburg. In 1997-1998, they advanced past Lyngby and Crystal Palace to reach the semifinals, where they were eliminated by Werder Bremen.
KF Shkendija - Samsunspor match infographic (AA)
In the 2025-2026 season, Samsunspor faced Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League play-off round, losing 2-1 away and drawing 0-0 at home. They then progressed to the Conference League group stage.
In the group stage, they defeated Legia Warsaw 1-0 away, and beat Dinamo Kiev and Hamrun Spartans 3-0. They drew 2-2 with Breidablik and suffered defeats against AEK and Mainz 05.
With these results, they finished 12th in the league phase and advanced to the round of 16 play-off.
The return leg will be played in Samsun.
Prior to the first leg of the UEFA Conference League round of 16 play-off, press conferences were held in Skopje by both Samsunspor and Shkendija.
Samsunspor head coach Thorsten Fink (AA)
Thorsten Fink noted that he had only recently taken charge and had conducted just two training sessions with the team. He stated that he is the third German head coach to lead Samsunspor in succession, following Markus Gisdol and Thomas Reis.
Fink expressed satisfaction with the team’s work discipline and said they have been working on fine-tuning details. He outlined their playing philosophy as focusing on ball possession, applying pressure, and creating positional advantages in the final third. Referencing his European experience, Fink emphasized their desire to win the match, highlighted the quality of the squad, and stressed the importance of the players believing in victory.
He underscored the importance of the result from the first leg before the return match, confirming that the second leg will be played in Samsun.
Carlo Holse, present at the press conference, stated that the match against Shkendija could serve as an important beginning for a new era.
Shkendija head coach Jeton Bekjiri (AA)
Jeton Bekjiri drew attention to Samsunspor’s recent coaching change, noting that it could introduce unpredictable elements. He said his staff would analyze the new head coach’s previous tactical approaches. Bekjiri assessed Samsunspor as the favorite in this tie, stating that Shkendija aims to control possession and demonstrate their quality on the pitch. He emphasized that the return leg would be decisive.
Team captain Besart Ibraimi stated that they would face a tough challenge against Samsunspor.
At press conferences held on 25 February 2026 at the Samsun New 19 May Stadium ahead of the UEFA Conference League round of 16 playoff second leg match, representatives from both teams including their coaching staff and players made statements. The remarks were delivered by Samsunspor Head Coach Thorsten Fink and player Cherif Ndiaye, as well as Shkendija Head Coach Jeton Bekjiri and player Sebastjan Spahiu.
Samsunspor Head Coach Thorsten Fink emphasized the decisive nature of the second leg match and stated that securing a victory was essential. He noted that this would be his first European match at home since taking up his role, adding that it held special significance for him.
Thorsten Fink (AA)
Fink highlighted that advancing to the round of 16 would represent a significant achievement in the club’s history. Despite having been in charge for only a short time, he expressed his belief that he had already injected energy into the team and noted that this impact was evident in the first leg. He indicated that different player selections could be considered for the return leg, including the possibility of fielding a double-striker formation. Fink clarified that the team does not adopt a purely defensive or counter-attacking approach but aims to be effective in transition play and is determined to implement its own tactical vision on the pitch.
Fink stressed that energy and self-confidence would be decisive factors in the match and underscored the importance of fan support. Although Shkendija had suffered only one home defeat so far, he noted that the advantage gained from the first-leg victory must be preserved.
Fink also emphasized that the campaign must be approached step by step, with the immediate priority being the return leg. He added that the team would likely reach a higher level in two weeks but acknowledged that the potential next opponent was still unknown. He stressed that the possibility of writing history depended entirely on the team’s performance.
Cherif Ndiaye (AA)
Samsunspor’s experienced player Cherif Ndiaye noted that although the first leg had been won, the tie was not yet decided. He highlighted the trust placed in the head coach and stated that the team had adopted a new playing philosophy.
Ndiaye said that the importance of the match was continuously discussed within the team, with regular player meetings held and the team captain providing leadership throughout the process. He emphasized that the focus must remain entirely on the return leg, noting that the identity of the potential next opponent was not yet relevant at this stage. He added that the team was operating under intense training conditions and that the match would not be easy.
Jeton Bekjiri (AA)
Shkendija Head Coach Jeton Bekjiri described Samsunspor as a serious and developing team. He stressed the high importance of the return leg for his side and emphasized that Samsunspor was a formidable opponent.
Bekjiri stated that his team aimed to deliver a higher level of performance on the pitch, acknowledged Samsunspor’s strength, and affirmed that they would not back down from the challenge. He noted that the first leg had been difficult and indicated that a more defensive approach might be adopted in the return leg, in line with the predetermined tactical plan. He confirmed that Samsunspor had been thoroughly analyzed and that a match strategy had been developed accordingly.
Sebastjan Spahiu (AA)
Shkendija midfielder Sebastjan Spahiu stated that Samsunspor was a strong team with a well-established identity in Turkish football. He acknowledged that his side had not delivered the desired performance in the first leg and declared that they would compete at full physical and mental capacity in the return match.
Spahiu expressed the team’s goal of securing a positive result from the match but acknowledged that achieving it would not be easy.
The second-leg playoff match of the UEFA Conference League round of 16 between Samsunspor and Shkendija was played in Samsun, with the home team winning 4-0 and advancing to the round of 16 with a 5-0 aggregate score.
Samsunspor-Shkendija match (AA)
Okan Kocuk, Zeki Yavru (75th minute Mendes), Satka, Van Drongelen, Tomasson (86th minute Soner Gönül), Makoumbou (84th minute Yunus Emre Çift), Ntcham, Assoumou (84th minute Ceesay), Holse, Moundilmadji, Ndiaye (75th minute Celil Yüksel).
Samsunspor starting eleven (AA)
Gaye, Trumçi, Fetai (77th minute Krasnigi), Meliqi, Webster, Islami, Zejnullai (86th minute Krstevski), Spahiu (61st minute Ibraimi), Tamba, Latifi (77th minute Ramadani), Moubeti (77th minute Alhassan).
Shkendija starting eleven (AA)
In the first half, Moubeti of Shkendija struck a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 7th minute that hit the crossbar. In the 15th minute, Samsunspor’s Ndiaye delivered a cross into the penalty area where Marius Mouandilmadji headed the ball, but goalkeeper Gaye blocked it with a diving save. Near the end of the first half, in the 45th minute, Holse’s low shot following a pass from Mouandilmadji struck Gaye and rebounded back into play; the first half ended 0-0.
Samsunspor-Shkendija match (AA)
In the second half, in the 53rd minute, referee Simone Sozza awarded a penalty after Assoumou was fouled inside the penalty area. Olivier Ntcham converted the penalty to give Samsunspor a 1-0 lead. In the 71st minute, Cherif Ndiaye scored from a placed shot following an Assoumou pass to make it 2-0. In the 79th minute, Mouandilmadji, facing goalkeeper Gaye after a layoff from Celil Yüksel, scored to extend the lead to 3-0. In the 88th minute, Mouandilmadji’s shot from another pass by Celil Yüksel struck the post. In the 90+2nd minute, Holse delivered a pass to Mouandilmadji who scored again to seal the score at 4-0.
Goals were scored by Ntcham (penalty, 53rd minute), Ndiaye (71st minute), and Mouandilmadji (79th and 90+2nd minutes). Shkendija received yellow cards to Zejnullai (28th minute), Tamba (36th minute), and Latifi (62nd minute).
Shkendija head coach Jeton Bekjiri stated that morale dropped after the first goal and further deteriorated following the penalty decision, adding that the result was unfavorable for his team. Bekjiri also noted that this match represented a new experience for his side, that they would strive to perform as well as possible in their domestic league going forward, and that Samsunspor was a serious opponent.
Samsunspor head coach Thorsten Fink (AA)
Samsunspor head coach Thorsten Fink said performance improved in the second half, that the game opened up after the goals, and that advancing with a 5-0 aggregate score was a positive outcome. Fink emphasized the importance of not conceding a goal and added that the desired style of play was not reflected on the pitch in the first half due to “tension.”
Samsunspor Football Director Fuat Çapa expressed delight at reaching the round of 16 in Europe, noting that objectives would become clearer as the domestic league season progressed and that the result contributed to Türkiye’s coefficient points. Mouandilmadji, who scored two goals in the match, said he was happy to have contributed to the team and proud to have helped the club reach the round of 16.
Possible opponents in the round of 16 are Shakhtar Donetsk and Rayo Vallecano. The draw is scheduled for 16:00 Turkish time, and the round of 16 matches are planned for 12 to 19 March. Fink noted that both potential opponents would be challenging, and that Shakhtar Donetsk plays their home matches in Poland, making an away trip to them potentially more advantageous.
Samsunspor finished the UEFA Conference League group stage in 12th place and advanced to the round of 16 play-off round where they were drawn against KF Shkendija. The first leg will be played on 19 February 2026 in Skopje. This match will be the club’s 19th in European competitions. Thorsten Fink will coach the team in his first official match following the change in head coach. The tie will be played over two legs with the return leg taking place in Samsun.
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February 19, 2026
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Samsunspor’s European History
February 19, 2026
Pre-Match Statements
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Lineups
February 20, 2026
Match Progression
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Return Leg
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Tournament Framework and Draw Process
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First Leg
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Probable Lineups
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Samsunspor’s European History
February 25, 2026
Pre-Match Statements
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Pre-Match Statements
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Shkendija Side