Albania v Kosovo
EventFriendly match
Date14 February 1993 (1993-02-14)
VenueSelman Stërmasi Stadium, Tirana, Albania
RefereeBujar Pregja (Albania)
Attendance14,000

The international friendly between the Albania and Kosovo national football teams on 14 February 1993 was the first match played by Kosovo after the partition of Football Federation of Kosovo from Football Association of Yugoslavia. It took place at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana, Albania with 14,000 fans in attendance.

Background

This match for Albania was the first match in 1993 after they were mathematically eliminated from 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification, but it was also a pre-preparation before the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Northern Ireland,[1] where were tested players who were expected to play or make their debut in the match against Northern Ireland as Artan Bano, Ilir Shulku, Xhevahir Kapllani and several other players, while for Kosovo, this match was the first match in 1993 after 18 years since the last match that Kosovo had played against Macedonia in 1975 Brotherhood and Unity Tournament Final, which Kosovo won as group leader.

Match

Organization

This match was scheduled to take place on 26 or 27 December 1992, but due to the non-participation of the general director of the Albanian Football Association, Eduard Dervishi, who was on an official trip, the date of the match was not decided. Meanwhile, on 19 January 1993, a delegation of the Football Federation of Kosovo composed of the head coach Ajet Shosholli, Enver Nuredini and Sejdi Merkoja met with the leaders of the Albanian Football Federation in a meeting that lasted until 20 January, when in same day a cooperation protocol was signed, where it was agreed that on 14 February there will be a friendly match between Albania and Kosovo which would take place at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in the Albania's capital, Tirana.[2]

Problems with organizing of Kosovo national team's trip

The organized departure of the expedition by Kosovo was unachievable, because the bus would be stopped at the border by Serbian Police and would turn back and the match would fail. It was decided that each member of the expedition, individually, would travel to Skopje from where the collective departure to Albania would take place. Thus, the bus that was going to transport Kosovo crossed the Macedonian border and arrived in Skopje empty, but even though all this was done in secret, two SDB agents were at the Kosovo national team's meeting place which was in the Grand Hotel in Skopje, but fortunately pass without incident.[2]

Squads composition

All caps and goals as of 14 February 1993 after the match.[2][3]

Summary

Albania 3–1 Kosovo
Abazi 38'
Seferi 39' (o.g.)
Fortuzi 42'
Report Munishi 72'
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Bujar Pregja (Albania)
Starting line-up:
Xhevahir Kapllani (GK) downward-facing red arrow 46'
Adnan Oçelli
Ardian Abazi
Edmond Dalipi
Edmond Dosti
Eduard Abazi (c) Yellow card downward-facing red arrow 46'
Ilir Shulku
Indrit Fortuzi downward-facing red arrow 46'
Kastriot Peqini downward-facing red arrow 46'
Salvador Kaçaj downward-facing red arrow 46'
Shkëlqim Muça
Substitutions:
Blendi Nallbani (GK) upward-facing green arrow 46'
Alvaro Zalla upward-facing green arrow 46'
Artan Bano upward-facing green arrow 46'
Skerdi Bejzade upward-facing green arrow 46'
Shpëtim Kapidani upward-facing green arrow 46'
Manager:
Albania Bejkush Birçe
Starting line-up:
Ahmet Beselica (GK) downward-facing red arrow 58'
Ardian Kozniku
Bardhec Seferi
Fadil Berisha
Gani Llapashtica
Genc Hoxha (c) downward-facing red arrow 64'
Isa Sadriu downward-facing red arrow 65'
Kushtrim Munishi
Muharrem Sahiti downward-facing red arrow 46'
Sadullah Ajeti downward-facing red arrow 46'
Selajdin Jerliu downward-facing red arrow 46'
Substitutions:
Xhelal Nushi (GK) upward-facing green arrow 58'
Adnan Aliu
Afrim Tovërlani upward-facing green arrow 64'
Avdullah Rafuna upward-facing green arrow 65'
Bashkim Idrizi upward-facing green arrow 46'
Bashkim Radogoshi
Bejtush Bejta upward-facing green arrow 46'
Ibrahim Domi
Mehmet Bllacaku
Ramiz Krasniqi
Sabit Osmani upward-facing green arrow 46'
Selim Ejupi
Manager:
Republic of Kosova Ajet Shosholli

References

  1. "Albania vs Northern Ireland, 17 February 1993, World Cup qualification". eu-football.info.
  2. 1 2 3 "Futbolli 1991–2011, 20 vjet mëvetësim" [Football 1991–2011, 20 years independence] (PDF) (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 2011. pp. Respectively on pages 63, 64 and 65, contain information about the match and organization.
  3. "International Matches 1993 – Europe, January–March". RSSSF. 14/02/1993, Tiranë, Dinamo, 14000, Friendly International, ALBANIA–KOSOVA
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