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, 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.

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.

Squads composition All caps and goals as of 14 February 1993 after the match.

Albania PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubGoalkeepersBlendi Nallbani60 TiranaXhevahir Kapllani10 Teuta DurrësDefendersEduard Abazi101 Grazer AKAdnan Oçelli90 Partizani TiranaKastriot Peqini70 ElbasaniArdian Abazi10 Teuta DurrësIlir Shulku10 Partizani TiranaMidfieldersSalvador Kaçaj40 AthinaikosArtan Bano10 Partizani TiranaShpëtim Kapidani10 Teuta DurrësAlvaro Zalla10 Teuta DurrësForwardsShkëlqim Muça172RetiredIndrit Fortuzi31 Dinamo TiranaEdmond Dosti20 Partizani TiranaEdmond Dalipi10 Dinamo TiranaSkerdi Bejzade10 Dinamo Tirana

Kosovo PlayerCapsGoalsClubAhmet Beselica (GK)10 PrishtinaXhelal Nushi (GK)10 VëllaznimiAfrim Tovërlani10 PrishtinaArdian Kozniku10 Hajduk SplitAvdullah Rafuna10 PrishtinaBardhec Seferi10 TrepçaBashkim Idrizi10 DrenicaBejtush Bejta10 LlapiFadil Berisha10 PrishtinaGani Llapashtica10 PrishtinaGenc Hoxha (c)10 VëllaznimiIsa Sadriu10 PrishtinaKushtrim Munishi11 PrishtinaMuharrem Sahiti10 DritaSabit Osmani10 TrepçaSadullah Ajeti10 DritaSelajdin Jerliu10 DritaAdnan Aliu00 DritaBashkim Radogoshi00 VëllaznimiIbrahim Domi00 VëllaznimiMehmet Bllacaku00 FlamurtariRamiz Krasniqi00 FlamurtariSelim Ejupi00 Flamurtari

Summary

Starting line-up:Xhevahir Kapllani (GK) Adnan Oçelli Ardian AbaziEdmond DalipiEdmond DostiEduard Abazi (c) Ilir ShulkuIndrit Fortuzi Kastriot Peqini Salvador Kaçaj Shkëlqim MuçaSubstitutions:Blendi Nallbani (GK) Alvaro Zalla Artan Bano Skerdi Bejzade Shpëtim Kapidani Manager: Bejkush BirçeStarting line-up:Ahmet Beselica (GK) Ardian KoznikuBardhec SeferiFadil BerishaGani LlapashticaGenc Hoxha (c) Isa Sadriu Kushtrim MunishiMuharrem Sahiti Sadullah Ajeti Selajdin Jerliu Substitutions:Xhelal Nushi (GK) Adnan AliuAfrim Tovërlani Avdullah Rafuna Bashkim Idrizi Bashkim RadogoshiBejtush Bejta Ibrahim DomiMehmet BllacakuRamiz KrasniqiSabit Osmani Selim EjupiManager: Ajet Shosholli

References

External links Match report at RSSSF