Boban Nikolov ruled out as Vardar head into derby with Sileks

Skopje, 24.08.2026 — Vardar arrive at today’s home derby against Sileks (kick-off 17:00 at the Skopje arena) under mounting strain: the champions have suffered two consecutive league defeats and a growing list of unavailable players.

Midfielder Boban Nikolov is the latest name to join the casualty list. He has missed training for several days after stretching the muscle in his right leg and will definitely miss the next two matches, against Sileks and Tikvesh.

Torres also appears on the club’s injury bulletin, although his absence is compounded by a suspension stemming from the red card he received following the duel with Shkëndija. Miguel Pires has returned to action but is not fully fit to start today’s game against his former club, and Nemanja Bosančić is coping with a similar problem.

Squad shortage and recent departures

The spate of muscular problems at Vardar began after the arrival of Argentine coach Fabiani and his conditioning staff, a change the club now links to a rapid deterioration in the squad’s physical readiness. Darko Velkovski has left for Bahrain, while Gerson Rodrigues is suspended after a scandal ahead of the match with Struga Trim & Lum; only Yankulov from the earlier list of absentees has returned to full availability.

With kick-off hours away, Vardar’s defensive options are limited: Matic and Najdovski are the only certain centre-backs, with Mishkovski the sole alternative on the bench. In midfield the starters look set to be Babunski, Todorovski and Castañeda, while Zakarić is once again expected to be the player to change the game as he did against Bregalnica.

Omeragić will lead the line, and Danev is available after being withdrawn from the squad headed to the Mediterranean Games with the U20 national team. The biggest tactical worry remains what happens after the 60th minute: Vardar collapsed following that mark in recent defeats to Shkëndija and Struga, and the bench is thin.

Photo: press material from the event