Albania national under-20 football team

Albania under-20
	Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)	Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks); Shqiponjat (The Eagles)
Association	Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit (FSHF)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Alban Bushi
Captain	Shaqir Tafa
Most caps	Amir Rrahmani (5); Aldo Teqja; Marvin Turtulli; Klaudio Hyseni; Ilir Kastrati; Enis Gavazaj; Maldin Ymeraj; Valon Ahmedi; Erion Hoxhallari; Arben Muskaj
Top scorer	Ardit Shehaj (1); Amir Rrahmani; Marvin Turtulli; Klaudio Hyseni; Ilir Kastrati; Klodian Gino
Home stadium	Elbasan Arena; Loro Boriçi Stadium
FIFA code	ALB

The Albania national under-20 football team, also known as Albania U20(s), is the national under-20 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania.

The under-20 squad is often cited as a feeder squad to the under-21 squad. Most of the player picked for this team are U-21 internationals already.

Because there is no under-20 competition at UEFA level, Albania's under-20 side has generally only competed when it has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every 2 years. Qualification for this competition is achieved in view of performance at the preceding summer's UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.

Albania have never played a game with the U-20 squad and the team was only formed after an invitation to play in 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy. Then Albania under-20 participated in the next tournament 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey.

In 2017 the Albanian Football Association decided to "reborn" the under-20 side by assigning a Friendly match against Georgia under-20 side on 14 November 2017 at David Petriashvili Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia.^[1]

History

2009 Mediterranean Games

Group D

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Spain	2	1	1	0	5	2	+3	4
Tunisia	2	1	1	0	4	3	+1	4
Albania	2	0	0	2	1	5	-4	0

27 June 2009 2009 Mediterranean Games	Albania	1 – 2	Tunisia	Pescara, Italy
17:00 CET	Shehaj 23'	Report	Ben Messaoud 27' Ayari 35'	Stadium: Stadio Valle Anzuca, Francavilla al Mare Referee: Fırat Aydınus (Turkey)

29 June 2009 2009 Mediterranean Games	Spain	3 – 0	Albania	Pescara, Italy
17:00 CET	Kike 11' Aarón 12' Botía 77'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Valle Anzuca, Francavilla al Mare Referee: Nikola Dabanović (Montenegro)

Squad

The following players were called up and participated in the 2009 Mediterranean Games football tournament, which began on 25 June in Pescara, Italy.^[2]

COACH: Artan Bushati

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Shpëtim Moçka	(1989-10-20)20 October 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Flamurtari Vlorë
12	1GK	Ibrahim Bejte	(1989-09-15)15 September 1989 (aged 19)	0	0	Lushnja

4	2DF	Klodian Samina	(1989-01-19)19 January 1989 (aged 20)	2	0	Belasitsa Petrich
2	2DF	Indrit Hithi	(1990-02-05)5 February 1990 (aged 19)	2	0	Partizani Tirana
3	2DF	Ditmar Bicaj	(1989-02-26)26 February 1989 (aged 20)	1	0	Belasitsa Petrich
13	2DF	Renato Malota (Captain)	(1989-06-24)24 June 1989 (aged 20)	2	0	Partizani Tirana
11	2DF	Arsen Sykaj	(1990-04-11)11 April 1990 (aged 19)	1	0	Vllaznia Shkodër

7	3MF	Sokol Cikalleshi	(1990-07-27)27 July 1990 (aged 18)	2	0	Besa Kavajë
5	3MF	Ganiol Kaçuli	(1989-09-22)22 September 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Elbasani
18	3MF	Orgest Gava	(1990-03-29)29 March 1990 (aged 19)	2	0	Elbasani
14	3MF	Erjon Vuçaj	(1990-12-25)25 December 1990 (aged 18)	2	0	Vllaznia Shkodër
8	3MF	Sabien Lilaj	(1989-02-10)10 February 1989 (aged 20)	2	0	Skënderbeu Korçë
6	3MF	Elham Galica	(1989-01-30)30 January 1989 (aged 20)	0	0	Flamurtari Vlorë
16	3MF	Orjan Xhemalaj	(1989-06-07)7 June 1989 (aged 20)	0	0	Teuta Durrës

17	4FW	Bekim Balaj	(1991-01-11)11 January 1991 (aged 18)	0	0	Vllaznia Shkodër
10	4FW	Vilfor Hysa	(1989-09-09)9 September 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Teuta Durrës
9	4FW	Ardit Shehaj	(1990-09-23)23 September 1990 (aged 18)	2	1	Flamurtari Vlorë
15	4FW	Alban Dashi	(1989-09-25)25 September 1989 (aged 19)	2	0	Partizani Tirana

2013 Mediterranean Games

Preliminary round - Group A

Template:GroupAMF2013MG

19 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Turkey	2–0	Albania	Mersin, Turkey
21:45 CET	Aydın 10' Sazdağı 86'	Report		Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Referee: Andrea De Marco (Italy)

21 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Albania	2–2	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Mersin, Turkey
18:00 CET	Turtulli 61' Rrahmani 73'	Report	Bajić 44' 52'	Stadium: Tarsus Şehir Stadı, Tarsus Referee: Baris Simsek (Turkey)

23 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Morocco	2–1	Albania	Mersin, Turkey
21:45 CET	Khaloua 33' (pen.) El Hassouni 58'	Report	Gino 47'	Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Referee: Alain Bieri (Switzerland)

Classification stage - 5–8 matches

25 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Albania	1–2 (a.e.t.)	North Macedonia	Mersin, Turkey
21:00 CET	Kastrati 85' (pen.)	Report	Kostovski 50' Imeri 6' (extra time)	Stadium: Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Referee: Nikola Popov (Bulgaria)

Classification stage - 7th place match

26 June 2013 2013 Mediterranean Games	Albania	1–3	Italy	Mersin, Turkey
18:00 CET	Hyseni 82'	Report	Canotto 20' Bollino 47' Gomez 54' (pen.)	Stadium: Tarsus Şehir Stadı, Tarsus Referee: Khalid Ennouni (Morocco)

Squad

COACH: Skënder Gega

The following players were called up and participated in the 2013 Mediterranean Games football tournament, which began on 19 June in Mersin, Turkey.^[3]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Aldo Teqja (Captain)	(1995-05-04) 4 May 1995 (age 29)	5	0	Anorthosis Famagusta
12	1GK	Marsel Çaka	(1995-03-31) 31 March 1995 (age 29)	1	0	Tirana
	1GK	Thomas Strakosha	(1995-03-19) 19 March 1995 (age 29)	-	-	Lazio

4	2DF	Amir Rrahmani	(1994-02-24) 24 February 1994 (age 30)	5	1	Partizani Tirana
5	2DF	Marvin Turtulli	(1994-10-17) 17 October 1994 (age 29)	5	1	Dinamo Tirana
3	2DF	Erion Hoxhallari	(1995-10-15) 15 October 1995 (age 28)	5	0	Tirana
2	2DF	Arben Muskaj	(1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 29)	5	0	PAS Giannina
13	2DF	Kristi Marku	(1995-04-13) 13 April 1995 (age 29)	2	0	Teuta Durrës
14	2DF	Rexhep Memini	(1994-04-10) 10 April 1994 (age 30)	2	0	Teuta Durrës
15	2DF	Melsen Shkreta	(1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 (age 30)	2	0	Dinamo Tirana
	2DF	Amir Bilali	(1994-04-15) 15 April 1994 (age 30)	-	-	Lazio

16	3MF	Klaudio Hyseni	(1994-07-15) 15 July 1994 (age 29)	5	1	Teuta Durrës
17	3MF	Ilir Kastrati	(1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 29)	5	1	Panathinaikos
7	3MF	Enis Gavazaj	(1995-03-21) 21 March 1995 (age 29)	5	0	Gent
10	3MF	Maldin Ymeraj	(1995-03-06) 6 March 1995 (age 29)	5	0	Panathinaikos
6	3MF	Ermir Rezi	(1994-05-12) 12 May 1994 (age 30)	4	0	Teuta Durrës
8	3MF	Klodian Gino	(1994-02-13) 13 February 1994 (age 30)	3	1	Olympiacos
	3MF	Liridon Latifi	(1994-02-06) 6 February 1994 (age 30)	-	-	Prishtina

18	4FW	Valon Ahmedi	(1994-10-07) 7 October 1994 (age 29)	5	0	Südtirol
11	4FW	Arlind Ferhati	(1994-01-20) 20 January 1994 (age 30)	3	0	Dinamo Tirana
9	4FW	Mateus Shkreta	(1994-04-16) 16 April 1994 (age 30)	2	0	Teplice

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

2017

14 November 2017 Friendly	Georgia	3–0	Albania	Tbilisi, Georgia
14:00 (14:00 UTC+1)		Report		Stadium: David Petriashvili Stadium

2018

21 January 2018 Friendly	Albania	v	Azerbaijan	Antalya, Turkey
18:00 (18:00 UTC+1)

26 January 2018 Friendly	Albania	v	Azerbaijan	Antalya, Turkey
18:00 (18:00 UTC+1)

Players

Current Squad

COACH: Alban Bushi

The following players were called up for the double friendly match against Azerbaijan on 21 & 26 January 2018.^[4]

Caps and goals as of 14 November 2017

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Klevis Hasanbelli	(1997-06-30) 30 June 1997 (age 26)	0	0	Kukësi
1GK	Jorgo Muça	(1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 26)	0	0	PAOK

2DF	Shaqir Tafa (Captain)	(1998-11-14) 14 November 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Monopoli
2DF	Leonardo Maloku	(1998-05-18) 18 May 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Santarcangelo
2DF	Kristian Bushaj	(1999-04-06) 6 April 1999 (age 25)	1	0	Panionios
2DF	Rei Nuriu	(1998-10-16) 16 October 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Dinamo Tirana
2DF	David Domgjoni	(1997-05-21) 21 May 1997 (age 26)	0	0	Liria Prizren
2DF	Ymer Shaba	(1998-07-21) 21 July 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Dinamo Tirana
2DF	Arbnor Mucolli	(1999-09-15) 15 September 1999 (age 24)	0	0	Vejle Boldklub

3MF	Arber Basha	(1998-01-13) 13 January 1998 (age 26)	1	0	Kamza
3MF	Nazmi Gripshi	(1997-07-05) 5 July 1997 (age 26)	0	0	Skënderbeu Korçë
3MF	Fabio Sakaj	(1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Racing Fondi
3MF	Anxhelo Mumajesi	(1997-03-28) 28 March 1997 (age 27)	0	0	Kamza
3MF	Xhonatan Lajthia	(1999-02-01) 1 February 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Teuta Durrës
3MF	Glejdis Ndraxhi	(1998-05-08) 8 May 1998 (age 26)	0	0	SV Arminia Hannover
3MF	Dionis Çikani	(1999-03-10) 10 March 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Torre Levante
3MF	Brajan Tola	(1997-07-09) 9 July 1997 (age 26)	0	0	Korabi Peshkopi
3MF	Belajdi Pusi	(1998-01-23) 23 January 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Vllaznia Shkodër
3MF	Klevis Përkeqi	(1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Partizani Tirana
3MF	Kevin Cela	(1998-05-20) 20 May 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Xanthi
3MF	Erjon Dragoj	(1999-09-06) 6 September 1999 (age 24)	0	0	Laçi

3MF	Erisildo Smaçi	(1998-07-15) 15 July 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Laçi

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Albania U20 squad within the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Mario Dajsinani	(1998-12-23) 23 December 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Erzeni Shijak	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
GK	Angelo Tafa	(2000-07-05) 5 July 2000 (age 23)	1	0	AEK Athens	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
GK	Gentian Selmani	(1998-03-09) 9 March 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Laçi	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017 ^PRE

DF	Irlian Ceka	(1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 26)	1	0	Sambenedettese	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
DF	Amer Duka	(1999-01-21) 21 January 1999 (age 25)	1	0	Laçi	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
DF	Ded Bushi	(1998-10-02) 2 October 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Laçi	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017

MF	Agim Zeka	(1998-09-06) 6 September 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Varzim	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF	Emir Sahiti	(1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Unattached	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF	Agon Mucolli	(1998-09-26) 26 September 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Vejle Boldklub	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF	Marco Hoxha	(1998-09-22) 22 September 1998 (age 25)	1	0	ArzignanoChiampo	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF	Marlon Marishta	(2000-06-11) 11 June 2000 (age 23)	1	0	Home Farm	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
MF	Sherif Kallaku	(1998-03-01) 1 March 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Laçi	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017 ^PRE
MF	Aleksandro Zaimaj	(1998-01-19) 19 January 1998 (age 26)	0	0	PAE Kerkyra	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017 ^PRE

FW	Valdrin Mustafa	(1998-03-11) 11 March 1998 (age 26)	1	0	FC Kaiserslautern	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
FW	Rubin Hebaj	(1998-07-30) 30 July 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Domžale	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017
FW	Armend Aslani	(1998-06-23) 23 June 1998 (age 25)	1	0	Akademisk Boldklub	v. Georgia, 14 November 2017

Notes

^INJ Withdrew due to injury
^PRE Preliminary squad / standby
^RET Retired from international football
^SUS Suspended from national team

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff:^[5]

Position	Name
Head Coach	Alban Bushi
Assistant Coach	Arjan Bellaj
Goalkeeping Coach	Alfred Osmani
Athletic Coach	Iris Selimi
Team Doctor	Erald Derveni
Physiotherapists	Gledi Rexha
Physiotherapists	Edison Koçi
Base materials	Roland Rarani

Tournament history

FIFA U-20 World Cup

Year	Round	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1977	Did not qualify
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011^[6]
2013
2015
2017
2019
Total^[7]	0/22	0	0	0	0	0	0

Mediterranean Games - Football

Football at the Mediterranean Games record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
2009	Group stage	10th	2	0	0	2	1	5
2013	Group stage	8th	5	0	1	4	5	11
Total	0/2	Best: 8th	7	0	1	6	6	16

References

^ "NDESHJET E NËNTORIT PËR U-21 DHE U-20" (in Albanian). FSHF. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Sektori i Ekipeve kombëtare në FSHF ka tashmë zyrtare edhe daten për ndeshjen miqësore të skuadrës kombëtare U-20, që përfshin lojtarë të datëlindjes U-20, përkatësisht me Gjeorgjinë.
^ Peskara 2009, Shqipëria zbardh listën e futbollistëve - 2009-06-17 Gazeta Start
^ Lojërat Mesdhetare: Shqipëria merr pjesë me 75 sportistë (Lista e plotë) Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
^ "KOMBËTARJA U-20, DY NDESHJE MIQËSORE ME AZERBAJXHANIN, TRAJNERI ALBAN BUSHI SHPALL LISTËN!" [U-20 NATIONAL TEAM, TWO FRIENDLIES WITH AZERBAIJAN, COACH ALBAN BUSHI ANNOUNCES THE LIST!] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
^ Kombëtarja U-21 (Albania national under-21 team) FSHF.org
^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup - Previous Tournaments". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup". FIFA.com.

External links

[1] "NDESHJET E NËNTORIT PËR U-21 DHE U-20" (in Albanian). FSHF. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017. Sektori i Ekipeve kombëtare në FSHF ka tashmë zyrtare edhe daten për ndeshjen miqësore të skuadrës kombëtare U-20, që përfshin lojtarë të datëlindjes U-20, përkatësisht me Gjeorgjinë.

[2] Peskara 2009, Shqipëria zbardh listën e futbollistëve - 2009-06-17 Gazeta Start

[3] Lojërat Mesdhetare: Shqipëria merr pjesë me 75 sportistë (Lista e plotë) Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al

[4] "KOMBËTARJA U-20, DY NDESHJE MIQËSORE ME AZERBAJXHANIN, TRAJNERI ALBAN BUSHI SHPALL LISTËN!" [U-20 NATIONAL TEAM, TWO FRIENDLIES WITH AZERBAIJAN, COACH ALBAN BUSHI ANNOUNCES THE LIST!] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.

[5] Kombëtarja U-21 (Albania national under-21 team) FSHF.org

[6] "FIFA U-20 World Cup - Previous Tournaments". FIFA.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.

[7] "FIFA U-20 World Cup". FIFA.com.

[1]

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v t e FIFA World Youth Championship and FIFA U-20 World Cup
Tournaments	Tunisia 1977 Japan 1979 Australia 1981 Mexico 1983 Soviet Union 1985 Chile 1987 Saudi Arabia 1989 Portugal 1991 Australia 1993 Qatar 1995 Malaysia 1997 Nigeria 1999 Argentina 2001 United Arab Emirates 2003 Netherlands 2005 Canada 2007 Egypt 2009 Colombia 2011 Turkey 2013 New Zealand 2015 South Korea 2017 Poland 2019 ~~Indonesia 2021~~ Argentina 2023 Chile 2025
Finals	1979 2017 2019 2023 2025
Squads	1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025
Qualification	AFC CAF CONCACAF CONMEBOL OFC UEFA
Records and statistics

History

2009 Mediterranean Games

Group D

Squad

2013 Mediterranean Games

Preliminary round - Group A

Classification stage - 5–8 matches

Classification stage - 7th place match

Squad

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

2017

2018

Players

Current Squad

Recent call-ups

Coaching staff

Tournament history

FIFA U-20 World Cup

Mediterranean Games - Football

See also

References

External links