Albania women's national football team

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.

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

Albania
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 2 (26 June 2020)[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)

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.

Overview

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]

Venues

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.

Kit suppliers
Kit provider Period
Legea 2011
Adidas 2011–2016
Macron 2016–present

Competitive record

World Cup
World Cup Finals World Cup qualification record
Year Result Pld W D * L GF GA GD Position Pld W D L GF GA GD
1991 Did not enterDid not enter
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015 Did not qualify6/613319856−48
2019 4/511326925−16
2023 To be determined To be determined
Total0/9–––––––Total2463151781−64
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

European Championship
European Championship Finals European Championship qualification record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA GD Position Pld W D* L GF GA GD
1984 Did not enterDid not enter
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017 Did not qualify5/58008331−28
2021 To be determined4/5–––––––
Total0/11–––––––Total8008331−28

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were named to the squad for the match against  Cyprus on 11 March 2020.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Ardiola Raxhimi (1998-09-12) 12 September 1998 0 0 Vllaznia
12 1GK Viona Rexhepi (1996-07-24) 24 July 1996 6 0 Mitrovica
2 2DF Endrina Elezaj (1997-01-12) 12 January 1997 9 0 Mitrovica
3 2DF Arbenita Curraj (1996-07-28) 28 July 1996 7 0 Hajvalia
4 2DF Albina Rrahmani (1989-02-24) 24 February 1989 32 1 Morön
5 2DF Arbiona Bajraktari (1996-09-10) 10 September 1996 23 1 Vllaznia
6 2DF Sara Maliqi (1995-10-09) 9 October 1995 18 0 Vllaznia
9 3MF Geldona Morina (1994-08-03) 3 August 1994 28 1 MSV Duisburg
13 3MF Mikaela Metalla (2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 0 0 Unknown
14 3MF Markela Bejleri (2001-05-28) 28 May 2001 1 0 Quinnipiac Bobcats
15 3MF Alma Hila (2000-02-02) 2 February 2000 4 0 Orobica
16 3MF Lucie Gjini (1994-05-02) 2 May 1994 29 1 Vllaznia
17 3MF Paula Jaku (1997-06-29) 29 June 1997 0 0 KFF Juban Danja
18 3MF Ezmiralda Franja (1997-02-04) 4 February 1997 25 0 Vllaznia
7 4FW Suada Jashari (1988-10-19) 19 October 1988 20 1 Mitrovica
8 4FW Zylfije Bajramaj (1997-10-02) 2 October 1997 9 1 KFF Juban Danja
10 4FW Qendresa Krasniqi (1994-06-28) 28 June 1994 17 1 Yverdon
11 4FW Megi Doçi (1996-10-14) 14 October 1996 22 4 Vllaznia

Recent call ups
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
FW Klaudia Rrotani (1995-05-16) 16 May 1995 2 0 Unknown v.  Scotland, 8 November 2019
FW Esi Lufo (2001-09-10) 10 September 2001 1 0 Vllaznia v.  Scotland, 8 November 2019

Recent schedule and results

The following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Main article: Albania women's national football team results

2019
2 September 2019 2021 Euro qualifier Albania0–3 FinlandElbasan Arena, Elbasan
17:00
Referee: Ruzanna Petrosyan (Armenia)
4 October 2019 2021 Euro qualifier Albania0–1 PortugalElbasan Arena, Elbasan
18:00
Referee: Ruzanna Petrosyan (Armenia)
8 October 2019 2021 Euro qualifier Finland8–1 AlbaniaHietalahti Stadium, Vaasa
18:00 (19:00 EEST)
Referee: Katalin Sipos (Hungary)

Record against other nations
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 Countries391122637129−92
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See also

References
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. Kirill (16 August 2010). "Albania matches". Kirill. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  3. 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
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