Albania women's national football team

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This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Albania national football team.

Albania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Kuq e Zinjtë
(The Red and Blacks)
AssociationAlbanian Football Association
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachVioresin Sinani
CaptainAlbina Rrahmani
Most capsDenisa Proto (22)
Top scorerFurtuna Velaj (7)
Home stadiumElbasan Arena
FIFA codeALB
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 75 Steady (20 August 2021)[1]
Highest40 (April 2015)
Lowest136 (December 2011)
First international
 Albania 1–0 Macedonia 
(Pogradec, Albania; 5 May 2011)[2]
Biggest win
 Macedonia 1–4 Albania 
(Struga, Macedonia; 10 November 2011)[2]
Biggest defeat
 Albania 0–11 Norway 
(Durrës, Albania; 13 September 2014)

The Albania women's national football team (Albanian: Kombëtarja e Femrave) represents the country of Albania in international football and is controlled by the Albanian Football Association which is headquartered in the city of Tirana. The team is affiliated with UEFA and competes in the two major professional tournaments, the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.

Women's football was long met with skepticism in Albania, and the first recorded tournament took place as late as 2007, before the FSHF formed the Albanian Women's National Championship in 2009, which is the only women's league in the country. The rise in popularity of the sport among women led to the formation of the Albania national team in 2011, and they made their debut in a friendly match against Macedonia that ended in a 1–0 win. The current head coach is Armir Grimaj, replacing Altin Rraklli who was in charge from the formation in 2011 until 2016.

History[]

The Albanian women's national football team was formed in 2011 and made their debut in a friendly against Macedonia FYR on 5 May 2011 at the Gjorgji Kyçyku Stadium.[3] The match ended 1–0 with Albania's first win and midfielder Aurora Seranaj scoring the first goal for Albania.[3]

Towards the end of 2011, the national team strengthened its squad with the arrival of football players from the Albanian diaspora communities, notably Furtuna Velaj, Dafina Memedov, Ellvana Curo, Elizabeta Ejupi, Arjeta Krasniqi and Arbnora Robelli. The national team ended the year with their second win against Macedonia FYR away in Struga. [4] The second victory against Macedonia FYR is currently the national team's biggest win.

On 15 May 2012, Albania faced Montenegro in Bar and won 4–2. [5] Three days later, the Albanian team won again with a rematch against Montenegro, winning 4–3 at the Loro Boriçi Stadium in Shkodër. [6] On 22 May, Albania encountered Macedonia FYR again, winning 2–0 with 2 goals from Suada Jashari. [7] The national team had so far been undefeated in 5 games, with 15 goals scored, and 6 goals conceded. On 29 August, The Albanian national team participated in an unofficial football tournament held in Drama. The national team drew 1–1 with Amazons Drama[8] and lost 0–3 to Greece.[9]

Team image[]

Kits and crest[]

Kit suppliers[]

Kit provider Period
Italy Legea 2011
Germany Adidas 2011–2016
Italy Macron 2016–present

Home stadium[]

The Elbasan Arena is currently the national stadium of the Albania women's national football team. The first home match in the country was played in the Gjorgji Kyçyku Stadium of Pogradec in May 2011.[3] Following the completion, the National Arena in Tirana will be the home venue of both the men's and women's national team.

In November 2013, Qemal Stafa Stadium was shut down by FIFA for not fulfilling international standards.[10] During the period of friendly games and the Euro qualifier with Greece in 2015, the women's team used the Loni Papuçiu Stadium in Fier to hold their matches. The Qemal Stafa Stadium held the match between France and Albania on 27 November 2015.

Results and fixtures[]

Main article: Albania women's national football team results

This Is the schedule of past & upcoming games for the Albania women's football team.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2020[]

23 October 2021 Euro qualifier Scotland  3–0  Albania Edinburgh, Scotland
 Report Stadium: Tynecastle Park
Referee: Graziella Pirriatore (Italy)
27 November 2021 Euro qualifier Albania  4–0  Cyprus Shkodër, Albania
14:00
Report Stadium: Loro Boriçi Stadium
Referee: Jelena Cvetković (Serbia)
1 December 2021 Euro qualifier Portugal  1–0  Albania Lisbon, Portugal
18:45 (17:45 WET)
Report Stadium: Estádio do Restelo
Referee: Olga Zadinová (Czech Republic)

2021[]

9 April Friendly Bosnia and Herzegovina  0–0  Albania Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
16:00 Report Stadium: Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre
12 July Friendly Albania  1–2  Turkey Elbasan, Albania
 Report (SW)
Stadium: Elbasan Arena
15 July Friendly Albania  1–4  Turkey Tirana, Albania
Stadium: Selman Stërmasi Stadium
16 September 2023 FIFA Women's World
Cup qualification		 Albania  1–1  Kosovo Elbasan, Albania
19:00 Doci Goal 43' (pen.) Report Limani Goal 72' Stadium: Elbasan Arena
Referee: Elvira Nurmustafina (Kazakhstan)

Coaching staff[]

Current coaching staff[]

Position Name Ref.
Head coach AlbaniaVioresin Sinani

Manager history[]

Players[]

See also: Category:Albania women's international footballers

Current squad[]

The following players were named to the squad for the match against  Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 April 2021.[12][13]

Caps and goals accurate up to and including 27 November 2020[citation needed].

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Viona Rexhepi (1996-07-24) 24 July 1996 (age 25) 7 0 Kosovo Mitrovica
12 1GK Antigona Hyska (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 18) 1 0 Albania Apolonia
3 2DF Arbenita Curraj (1996-07-28) 28 July 1996 (age 25) 8 0 Albania Vllaznia
4 2DF Albina Rrahmani (captain) (1989-02-24) 24 February 1989 (age 32) 33 1 Albania Vllaznia
6 2DF Sara Maliqi (1995-10-09) 9 October 1995 (age 25) 19 0 Albania Vllaznia
13 2DF (2004-11-30) 30 November 2004 (age 16) Albania Apolonia
15 2DF Mikaela Metalla (2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 18) 1 0 Albania KFF Tirana AS
16 2DF Luçije Gjini (1994-05-02) 2 May 1994 (age 27) 30 2 Albania Vllaznia
19 2DF Xhulia Xhindole (1999-01-24) 24 January 1999 (age 22) Albania KFF Tirana AS
2 3MF Endrina Elezaj (1997-01-12) 12 January 1997 (age 24) 10 0 Kosovo Mitrovica
8 3MF Ilarja Zarka (2001-10-01) 1 October 2001 (age 19) 1 0 Albania Vllaznia
10 3MF Vanesa Levenaj (2001-08-10) 10 August 2001 (age 20) 1 0 Albania Vllaznia
11 3MF Megi Doçi (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 (age 24) 23 5 Albania Vllaznia
17 3MF Armela Tukaj (2001-05-25) 25 May 2001 (age 20) Albania Apolonia
18 3MF Ezmiralda Franja (1997-02-04) 4 February 1997 (age 24) Albania Vllaznia
20 3MF Valentina Troka (2002-11-15) 15 November 2002 (age 18) Albania KFF Tirana AS
21 3MF (2003-05-21) 21 May 2003 (age 18) Albania Vllaznia
7 4FW Mesuare Begallo (2000-03-01) 1 March 2000 (age 21) Albania FK Partizani Tirana
9 4FW Esi Lufo (2001-09-10) 10 September 2001 (age 20) Albania Vllaznia
14 4FW Klea Hamonikaj (2003-05-28) 28 May 2003 (age 18) Albania Apolonia

Recent call ups[]

The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK (1998-08-04) 4 August 1998 (age 23) 0 0 Albania FK Partizani Tirana v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020
DF Arbiona Bajraktari (1996-09-10) 10 September 1996 (age 25) 23 1 Albania Vllaznia v.  Cyprus, 27 November 2020
DF Alma Hilaj (2000-02-02) 2 February 2000 (age 21) 5 0 Italy Orobica v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020
DF Aidena Mustafaj (1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 23) 2 0 Albania Vllaznia v.  Scotland, 22 October 2020
MF Mimoza Hamidi (1998-04-28) 28 April 1998 (age 23) 1 0 Switzerland Zürich v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020
MF (1997-06-29) 29 June 1997 (age 24) 0 0 Albania KFF Juban Danja v.  Scotland, 22 October 2020
MF Suada Jashari (1988-10-19) 19 October 1988 (age 32) 21 2 Kosovo Mitrovica v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020
MF Qëndresa Krasniqi (1994-06-28) 28 June 1994 (age 27) 18 1 unknown v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020
MF Vanesa Levendi (1997-08-10) 10 August 1997 (age 24) 1 0 unknown v.  Scotland, 22 October 2020
MF (2001-01-31) 31 January 2001 (age 20) 0 0 unknown v.  Scotland, 22 October 2020
FW Zelfije Bajramaj (1997-10-02) 2 October 1997 (age 23) 10 1 Albania Vllaznia v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020
FW Kristina Maksuti (1993-02-06) 6 February 1993 (age 28) 13 1 Norway Klepp IL v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020
FW Anna Memija (2004-02-18) 18 February 2004 (age 17) 1 0 United States Saddle Brook Falcons v.  Portugal, 1 December 2020

Records[]

Individual[]

See also: Category:Albania women's international footballers
As of 5 August 2021

*Active players in bold.

Competitive record[]

FIFA Women's World Cup[]

FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Pld W D * L GF GA GD Position Pld W D L GF GA GD
China 1991 Did not enter Did not enter
Sweden 1995
United States 1999
United States 2003
China 2007
Germany 2011
Canada 2015 Did not qualify 6/6 13 3 1 9 8 56 −48
France 2019 4/5 11 3 2 6 9 25 −16
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/9 – – – – – – – Total 24 6 3 15 17 81 −64

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship[]

UEFA Women's Championship record Qualification record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA GD Position Pld W D* L GF GA GD
1984 Did not enter Did not enter
Norway 1987
Germany 1989
Denmark 1991
Italy 1993
Germany 1995
Norway 1997
Germany 2001
England 2005
Finland 2009
Sweden 2013
Netherlands 2017 Did not qualify 5/5 8 0 0 8 3 31 −28
England 2021 To be determined 4/5 – – – – – – –
Total 0/11 – – – – – – – Total 8 0 0 8 3 31 −28

Head-to-head record[]

As of 5 August 2021
Opponent Games Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Differential
 Belgium 2 0 0 2 0 8 −8
 Croatia 2 0 0 2 2 10 −8
 Finland 2 0 0 2 1 11 −11
 France 2 0 0 2 0 12 −12
 Greece 5 2 0 3 6 12 −6
 Hungary 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6
 Kosovo 1 1 0 0 3 2 −1
 Latvia 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Luxembourg 2 2 0 0 4 2 +2
 North Macedonia 4 3 0 1 10 5 +5
 Malta 2 0 2 0 1 1 0
 Montenegro 3 2 0 1 8 6 +2
 Netherlands 2 0 0 2 1 14 −13
 Norway 2 0 0 2 0 18 −18
 Portugal 3 0 0 3 1 11 −10
 Romania 2 0 0 2 0 6 −6
 Turkey 2 1 0 1 1 1 0
 Ukraine 2 0 0 2 0 6 −6
18 Countries 39 11 2 26 37 129 −92

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Kirill (16 August 2010). "Albania matches". Kirill. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Fatjon Pandovski - Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) (6 May 2011). "Seranaj scores as Albania women make their debut". uefa.com.
  4. ^ Sue Prior. "Winning International debut for Liz". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Montenegro vs. Albania 2 – 4". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Albania vs. Montenegro 4 – 3". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Albania vs. Macedonia FYR 2 – 0". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  8. ^ "Δράμα -Αλβανία μέσα απο το φακό". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  9. ^ "Αυλαία στο τουρνουά της Δράμας (+photos)- Κόγγουλη "Καλό τεστ το τουρουά για την Εθνική"". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Sport.albeu.com – UEFA "djeg" edhe "Ruzhdi Bizhutën" e "Niko Dovanën"". Archived from the original on 26 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  11. ^ Rraklli largohet nga stoli i Kombëtares së femrave, ja kush e zëvendëson
  12. ^ "Miqësorja e Kombëtares së femrave/ Shqipëria barazon me Bosnje-Hercegovinën". 9 April 2021.
  13. ^ "International - Tous les résultats et compositions des matchs".

External links[]

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