The head of the AFF, Duka: I have a good feeling about the match against Serbia

AFF President, Duka: I have a good feeling about the match against Serbia

The Albanian national team has begun preparations today for the big match against Serbia, which is one of the most important in the red and blacks’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

On the eve of the match to be played on October 11 in Leskovac, the president of the Albanian Football Federation, Armand Duka, also spoke.

He spoke about the match against Serbia, the Albanian national team’s chances in its group, and the move of the match from Belgrade to Leskovac.

Regarding the match against the Serbs, he said that it is quite important, but said that his goal and that of the players is only “sportsmanlike”.

“There is no national team match that does not have maximum emotion, but when it comes to being on the verge of achieving an objective or fighting for points, things become emotional. The match against Serbia, because it gives us a chance to go to the play-offs, is very important. All other things, neither I nor the players want to have in our memory, our goal is sports,” Duka told “Top Channel”.

The head of Albanian football has announced that the match against Serbia will not determine the fate of coach Sylvinho.

“It is not true that we have decided whether or not to win this match, Sylvinho will decide his fate. What we have said is that if we qualify, there is no motive to discuss compromising or changing the staff. If we do not qualify, there will undoubtedly be discussions, whether from us, from his staff or himself. So this is not the match that will decide whether or not Sylvinho will be further or not,” he added.

Duka said that even a draw, in addition to a victory, keeps Albania in the game for a place in the play-offs.

“A win would make us more confident of reaching the play-off objective, while a draw keeps us in the game. But we enter the field for the three points and we are aware that they are very difficult to get. No one can think that we are favorites. I think this is an open match and we have the opportunity to get 3 points,” he said.

Duka says that moving the match from Belgrade to Leskovac does not change anything for the match against Serbia.

“I don’t see any major advantage or disadvantage in moving the venue. What’s important is that it’s a very good field, where players can express themselves with good conditions and that’s it.”

Duka finally says that he has good feelings about the match against Serbia.

“A victory would really give us a safer step towards the World Cup play-offs, but even a draw keeps us in the game. It’s difficult, but I have positive feelings without wanting to exaggerate. I have faith in the group and the group spirit that we have. We don’t have extraordinary qualities, but we have better quality and a better group than Serbia, so I really have good feelings,” concluded Duka in an interview for “Top Channel”./Express newspaper/