A press conference was scheduled today in Baku for Azerbaijan head coach Fernando Santos ahead of the team’s second Group D match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine.
But the Portuguese coach did not attend. Instead, AFFA General Secretary Jahanhir Farajullayev appeared before the media to announce Santos’ departure.
“Today, the AFFA Executive Committee terminated Fernando Santos’ contract by mutual agreement. Tomorrow’s match will be led by Aykhan Abbasov,” Farajullayev stated.
Abbasov, it should be noted, is currently the head coach of Azerbaijan’s U21 national team.
