Kyrgyzstan 2023 Home (#9- BATYRKANOV) Jersey/Shirt

This is a Joma Kyrgyzstan national team 2023 home jersey featuring the number of star striker Ernist Batyrkanov.

Until recently Kyrgyzstan were one of the minnows of Asian football, however over the past few years their performances have improved dramatically, culminating in their qualification for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Prior to this, the team has never achieved much international success and reached an all-time low FIFA ranking of 201 in March 2013. By April 2018 their ranking had climbed to an incredible 75 and a second-place finish in their group in the third round of qualifiers saw Kyrgyzstan qualify for their first ever Asian Cup. At the tournament, they performed admirably and surprised many by reaching the Round of 16. They opened with narrow losses to China and South Korea before defeating Philippines 3-1. Kyrgyzstan then faced hosts UAE in the next round and gave them a huge scare by forcing the match into extra time, however they eventually lost 3-2 after conceding a controversial penalty in the 103rd minute. Kyrgyzstan continued their recent development by once again qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup, securing a place in the tournament after finishing runners-up in the third round of qualifiers following victories against Singapore and Myanmar.

Ernist Batyrkanov is one of the leading players in the current generation of Kyrgyz football and has been a regular in the national team squad in recent years. The 27-year-old began his senior club career in the 2015/16 season with hometown team FC Ala-Too Naryn, based in Naryn in central Kyrgyzstan. His talent was quickly identified and he was signed by Kyrgyz giants FC Dordoi Bishkek in late 2016, where he won three league titles in four seasons at the club. Batyrkanov made the move abroad in 2021, first signing with Kazakhstan Premier League club FC Kyzylzhar and then with Armenian Premier League club FC Van later in 2021. He returned to Kyrgyzstan for the 2022 season, where he had a breakout year with new club Abdysh-Ata Kant, scoring 12 goals in 25 matches to lead the team to their maiden league title. In 2023, he moved overseas once again to join newly-promoted Malaysia Super League club Kelantan United. At international level, Batyrkanov has scored 3 goals in 32 marches for the Kyrgyzstan national team since his debut in 2018 and was a member of their 2019 & 2023 AFC Asian Cup squads.