Albania men's national basketball team
FIBA ranking | 106 1 (7 December 2021)[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
Joined FIBA | 1947 | ||
FIBA zone | FIBA Europe | ||
National federation | FSHB | ||
Coach | Afrim Bilali | ||
Nickname(s) | Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks) Shqiponjat (The Eagles) | ||
FIBA World Cup | |||
Appearances | None | ||
EuroBasket | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 1947) | ||
Medals | None | ||
| |||
First international | |||
Italy 60–15 Albania (Prague, Czechoslovakia; 27 April 1947) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Albania 112–77 Iceland (Wolfenbüttel, West Germany; 15 May 1975) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Belgium 114–11 Albania (Prague, Czechoslovakia; 28 April 1947) |
The Albania men's national basketball team (Albanian: Kombëtarja e basketbollit të Shqipërisë) represents Albania in international basketball competitions. The national team is governed by the Albanian Basketball Association.
Albania has competed at the EuroBasket twice throughout their history, in 1947 and 1957. While the team has appeared on the continental level in the past, Albania still looks to obtain qualification to reach the FIBA World Cup.
History[]
20th century[]
Basketball was introduced in Albania in the early 20th century, and it became popular in the 1920s following the end of World War I as sports societies and clubs were being formed all over the country, and basketball was soon introduced to the major towns and cities in Albania. Basketball was played informally by teams representing different sports clubs, and it wasn't until September 1945 that a National Basketball Committee was formed that would be responsible for dealing with the issues basketball teams in the country faced. The committee paved the way for the creation of the Albanian Basketball Association (ABA) a year later in 1946, which became a member of FIBA in 1947. Their main goals were to enable clubs to compete in national competitions, as well as to promote the sport. The first National Championship in Albania was held in 1946, and a year later the first Women's National Championship also took place. In 1951 the ABA created the Republic's Cup, which was a competition open to all professional and amateur basketball clubs in Albania, with the women's and youth versions of the competition both starting in 1952. During the Communist regime in Albania, the National Spartakiad was held between 1959 and 1989, where basketball was one of the more popular sports in display in the country's biggest sports events. In 1999 the ABA held the first Albanian Basketball Supercups for men and women, which is played between the winners of the league and cup.
Albania first competed in a European Championship at EuroBasket 1947 held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, shortly after joining FIBA as an affiliate national team. In the preliminary round of the competition Albania was placed in Group D, with Italy, Belgium and Egypt. Albania's their first game in a major tournament came against Italy, which was a 15–60 loss.[2] In their next two matches, Albania would suffer heavy defeats at the hands of Belgium 114–11 and to Egypt 19–104. In the next round, Albania were placed in the lower bracket Group 3 to determine who finishes between 7th and 10th place. There, the national team were up against Romania and Austria. Albania would go on to lose 19–73 to Romania and 27–44 to Austria. The team then went on to face Yugoslavia in the final game to determine 13th and 14th place, where they would lose 13–90 to Yugoslavia to finish in last place out of 14 teams.[3] During the tournament, Albania registered a record of (0–6), while averaging just 17.3 points per game. Their highest point tally came against Austria where they scored 27 points, which was also the match where the team had its smallest margin of defeat at 17 points. Albania conceded an average of 80.3 points per game, with their highest scoring opponent being Belgium.
Ten years after their debut tournament appearance at the Euros, Albania competed at EuroBasket 1957 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Albania were placed in Group A in the preliminary round with Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Scotland. The national team lost 57–89 to Yugoslavia in their opening match, and then went on to lose 71–37 to Czechoslovakia and 65–42 against Scotland to finish bottom of the group. During the classification round, Albania faced Turkey, Italy, Finland, Belgium, West Germany, Austria and Scotland. Albania would lose all seven games in the classification round, which sent the team toward finishing at the bottom of another EuroBasket tournament, this time out of 16 teams.[4] Albania during the competition averaged 47.6 points per game, with their highest points tally coming against Turkey in a 64–97 defeat. Albania conceded an average of 78.4 points per game during their ten games played at the event. Despite putting up better statistical numbers than those in 1947, Albania could not manage to earn a victory at the Euros for the second consecutive tournament.
After EuroBasket 1957, Albania failed to reach a major tournament again throughout the rest of the 20th century. Although the national team did go on to attempt to qualify on numerous occasions, but were unsuccessful.
21st century[]
In 2002, Albania entered a smaller competition, the 2002 European Championship for Small Countries. Albania would begin the tournament in Group A, where the team would eventually earn a (2–1) record. However, due to point differential, Albania missed out on advancing to the knockout phase and were relegated to the classification round. There, the team defeated Gibraltar, but lost to Moldova to finish the tournament in sixth place.[5]
After achieving nearly similar results at the competition in 2004, Albania were poised to change the narrative at the 2006 tournament. The national team quickly set the tone, as they went undefeated (3–0) in the group stage to advance. In the semis, Albania won a high scoring affair against Andorra 111–101, to send the team into the final. Although the team would fall short of winning the competition, losing a tightly contested match to Azerbaijan to finish as the runners-up.[6]
Entering qualification for EuroBasket 2017, Albania struggled to a (1–5) record during the qualifiers, picking up their lone victory against Slovakia and missing out to qualify.[7] During the process for Albania to qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the national team went through European Pre-Qualifiers. However, Albania were overwhelmed in all four of their matches in the pre-qualifying stage, and failed to advance.[8]
Following Albania's lost attempt to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, the team directed their attention toward EuroBasket 2022 qualifying. Although Albania would display similar results which caused the team to miss out on the World Cup, and being eliminated.[9]
Competitive record[]
FIBA World Cup[]
Olympic Games[]
Championship for Small Countries[]
|
EuroBasket[]
Mediterranean Games[]
|
Results and fixtures[]
Win Loss
2020[]
20 February 2020 2023 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers - 1st round
|
Portugal | 70–62 | Albania | Albufeira, Portugal |
---|---|---|---|---|
18:30 | Scoring by quarter: 9–18, 22–13, 13–16, 26–15 | |||
Pts: Fonseca 16 Rebs: Fonseca, 6 Asts: , Ventura 4 |
Boxscore | Pts: Taflaj 18 Rebs: 9 Asts: 7 |
Arena: Referees: Can Mavisu (TUR), Raúl Zamorano (ESP), James Dominique (GIB) |
23 February 2020 2023 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers - 1st round
|
Albania | 71–64 | Cyprus | Durrës, Albania |
---|---|---|---|---|
17:00 | Scoring by quarter: 14–17, 13–16, 22–15, 22–16 | |||
Pts: Moore 20 Rebs: Hysenagolli 11 Asts: four players 2 |
Boxscore | Pts: 17 Rebs: , Stylianou 6 Asts: Razis 6 |
Arena: Dhimitraq Goga Sports Palace Referees: Aleksandar Milojević (MKD), Ivan Miličević (BIH), Jasmina Juras (SRB) |
26 November 2020 2023 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers - 1st round
|
Belarus | 90–50 | Albania | Matosinhos, Portugal* [note 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
16:30 | Scoring by quarter: 21–16, 24–7, 23–20, 22–7 | |||
Pts: Parakhouski 17 Rebs: Parakhouski 10 Asts: , 5 |
Boxscore | Pts: 15 Rebs: Shima 7 Asts: 3 |
Arena: Referees: Charalampos Karakatsounis (GRE), Guido Giovannetti (ITA), Maxime Boubert (FRA) |
28 November 2020 2023 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers - 1st round
|
Albania | 70–88 | Portugal | Matosinhos, Portugal* [note 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
18:00 | Scoring by quarter: 16–22, 21–26, 25–21, 8–19 | |||
Pts: Shima 18 Rebs: 7 Asts: 7 |
Boxscore | Pts: 16 Rebs: Queiroz 8 Asts: , Ventura 7 |
Arena: Referees: Charalampos Karakatsounis (GRE), Guido Giovannetti (ITA), Alberto Sánchez (ESP) |
2021[]
18 February 2021 2023 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers - 1st round
|
Cyprus | 88–66 | Albania | Nicosia, Cyprus* [note 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:00 | Scoring by quarter: 18–22, 14–12, 26–15, 30–17 | |||
Pts: Iliadis 21 Rebs: 7 Asts: 6 |
Boxscore | Pts: 17 Rebs: Hysenagolli 9 Asts: 5 |
Arena: Eleftheria Indoor Hall Referees: Ilya Putenko (RUS), Péter Praksch (HUN), Franko Gracin (CRO) |
20 February 2021 2023 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers - 1st round
|
Albania | 72–93 | Belarus | Nicosia, Cyprus* [note 1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:00 | Scoring by quarter: 24–25, 15–19, 16–26, 17–23 | |||
Pts: Taflaj 16 Rebs: Hysenagolli 10 Asts: , Hysenagolli 4 |
Boxscore | Pts: 26 Rebs: , 6 Asts: 7 |
Arena: Eleftheria Indoor Hall Referees: Nemanja Ninković (SRB), Péter Praksch (HUN), Franko Gracin (CRO) |
25 November 2021 EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualifiers – 1st round
|
Albania | 92–89 | Luxembourg | Durrës, Albania |
---|---|---|---|---|
18:00 (UTC+1) | Scoring by quarter: 27–26, 21–20, 20–28, 24–15 | |||
Pts: 23 Rebs: 9 Asts: 4 |
Boxscore | Pts: 25 Rebs: 7 Asts: 8 |
Arena: Dhimitraq Goga Sports Palace Referees: Goran Sljivić (AUT), Can Mavisu (TUR), Anastasios Kardaris (GRE) |
2022[]
27 February 2022 EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualifiers – 1st round
|
Luxembourg | vs. | Albania | |
Boxscore |
Team[]
Current roster[]
Roster for the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers match on 25 November 2021 against Luxembourg.[11]
Albania men's national basketball team roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Depth chart[]
Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
---|---|---|---|
C | Endrit Hysenagolli | Frenki Lilaj | |
PF | Rei Pullazi | Julian Hamati | |
SF | Daniel Lekndreaj | Çelis Taflaj | Thano Niko |
SG | Dallas Moore | Eldi Hysa | |
PG | Robert Shestani | Elvisi Dusha | Klein Strazimiri |
Head coach history[]
- Rexhep Rama – (1946)
- Naim Pilku – (1947–1959)
- Feti Borova – (1960)
- Naim Pilku – (1963)
- Feti Borova – (1963–1965)
- Astrit Greva – (1969)
- Feti Borova – (1971–1974)
- Bujar Shehu – (1975)
- Feti Borova – (1976–1977)
- Bujar Shehu – (1978)
- Feti Borova – (1984–1985)
- Astrit Greva – (1985–1991)
- Bujar Shehu – (1992–1997)
- Arben Fagu – (1998–2001)[12]
- Bujar Shehu – (2002)
- Roland Avrami – (2002–2004)
- Korab Llazani – (2005–2006)[13]
- Arben Fagu – (2006)
- Roland Avrami – (2006–2009)
- Mark Dickel – (2010–2011)[14]
- Fatmir Cuka – (2011–2012)[15]
- Roland Avrami – (2012–2013)[16]
- Antonis Constantinides – (2015–2017)[17]
- Antonios Doukas – (2017–2018)
- Afrim Bilali – (2019–present)
Past rosters[]
1947 EuroBasket: finished 14th among 14 teams
3 Muntaz Peshkopia, 4 Naim Pilku, 5 Bajram Kurani, 6 Çerçiz Zavalani, 7 Dilaver Toptani, 8 Ferdin Toptani, 9 Vlash Koljaka, 10 Dhimitraq Goga (Coach: Naim Pilku)
1957 EuroBasket: finished 16th among 16 teams
3 Ilo Teneqexhi, 4 Feti Borova, 5 Dhimitraq Goga, 6 Kiço Gjata, 7 Ferdinand Qirici, 8 Muhamet Përmeti, 9 Fatmir Meka, 10 Muhamet Sokoli, 11 Salvador Sotiri, 12 Muhamet Moursakou, 13 Jorgji Çako (Coach: Naim Pilku)
See also[]
- Sport in Albania
- Albania women's national basketball team
- Albania men's national under-18 basketball team
- Albania men's national under-16 basketball team
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ EuroBasket 1947 – Albania v Italy game results
- ^ EuroBasket 1947 game results
- ^ EuroBasket 1957 game results
- ^ "Albania at the 2002 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Archive.fiba.com. 15 June 2002.
- ^ "Albania at the 2006 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Archive.fiba.com. 3 June 2006.
- ^ "Albania during the EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Albania during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ "Albania during the EuroBasket 2022 Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "Statement regarding the November 2020 and February 2021 Qualifiers". Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Albania during the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers in Nov. 2021". Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Arben Fagu: Basketbolli ynë për t’u vajtuar, s’ka e s’mund të kemi më një Agim Fagu
- ^ Korab Llazani: Basketbolli ynë me probleme të trashëguara, Kosova nivel tjetër
- ^ "Dickel hopes for return to Rams' glory days". Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ Basketboll, rikthehet Fatmir Cuka
- ^ Roland Avrami: Shqiperia eshte rritur jo vetem ne centimentra
- ^ Qiprioti Constantinides, trajneri i ri i kombëtares
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albania men's national basketball team. |
- Official website (in Albanian)
- Albania at FIBA site
- Albania National Team - Men at Eurobasket.com
- Albania Basketball Records at FIBA Archive
- Albania national basketball team
- Men's national basketball teams
- Basketball teams in Albania
- 1947 establishments in Albania