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| Amputee players of the Albanian national team, Source: FSHF |
The Albanian national amputee team marked a significant milestone as they made their debut in the international UEFA Nations League tournament. This tournament, organized by the European Amputee Football Federation in collaboration with UEFA, is currently taking place in Scotland.
Albania is competing in Division D of the Amputee Football Nations League alongside Kosovo, Azerbaijan, the Netherlands, and Scotland. The initial matches took place in Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland.
During these early fixtures, Albania faced off against Scotland and the Netherlands, ultimately losing both matches to teams with extensive experience in amputee football. Nevertheless, the Albanian squad is determined to prove themselves in the upcoming matches against Kosovo and Azerbaijan, which will also determine the final ranking within their group.
This competition operates similarly to the UEFA Nations League, and it marks the first instance of such an organized event in the field of amputee football. Participating teams have been divided into four divisions based on their current rankings. Each division comprises 4 or 5 teams, and the teams play matches using a points-based accumulation system.
The team finishing last in their group will be relegated to a lower division, while the team that finishes at the top will advance to a higher division. The Nations League tournament offers an opportunity to qualify for the 2024 European Amputee Football Championships, a prestigious event for amputee footballers.
This marks a historic participation for Albania, as they fielded their national amputee team for the first time, an initiative established only a few years ago with the support of the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF). The team has been diligently preparing for this tournament and has also engaged in friendly matches during the lead-up to the competition.