Four more players have been added to the list of players Kosovo will be missing against Andorra. Coach Franco Foda will not be able to count on goalkeepers Arijanet Muriq and Amir Shaipi. Striker Rilind Nivokazi and midfielder Bersant Celina will also be absent.
But, despite the absences, Kosovo aims for victory. The friendly match Kosovo – Andorra will be played on Sunday at 20:00, at the “Fadil Vokrri” stadium in Pristina.
Goalkeeper Muriq has had concerns in previous training sessions and has not fully recovered. Shaipi will not be able to join the team due to family issues. The same was the case with Edon Zhegrova. Due to a sensitive family situation, Nivokazi has also been released from the squad. Celina was meanwhile scheduled to play only against Andorra, as he was engaged with the Swedish AIK. But, in cooperation with the club and coach Foda, Celina has asked for understanding from the German coach not to join the “Dardans”. The news was confirmed on Saturday at the beginning of the press conference by the manager of the Kosovo National Team, Bajram Shala.
Center backs Lumbardh Dellova and Andi Hoti have also been released from this squad due to injuries.
Coach Foda said that these absences are normal in football, but asked others to give their best.
“Tomorrow we have a friendly match, the second one. We will give the young players the opportunity to show up, to present themselves, we did this in the first match. We will do the same tomorrow,” Foda declared at the press conference.
Foda emphasized that the test match will also serve the Nations League, as he has a clear picture of those who were present. He urged caution towards Andorra.
“Andorra is a very good team, especially tactically. They won the last match against Liechtenstein 2:0. This shows that they have a very good organization. It will not be an easy match. I will ask the players from the first minute to play with the highest intensity, to concentrate and go to their limits, to give 100 percent,” said the 60-year-old Foda.
Mergim Vojvoda was also at the press conference.
He congratulated the new players for their commitment and quick adaptation.
“I believe this is a blessing that when older players are absent, it is a chance for young players to show themselves and for this reason I believe that the level should not be changed because there is a new energy and desire to do well for the national team, to increase the quality in the group,” said Vojvoda.
Vojvoda with Kosovo missed the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup. Kosovo lost the playoff final to Turkey in Pristina at the end of March. At the club level with Como, Vojvoda will play at the highest level, the Champions League.
“I believe that if you asked me one or the other, I would choose success with Kosovo with my eyes closed. But this is the reality, I am very happy that we managed to qualify for the Champions League. However, I believe that we were all upset after losing the final here at home against Turkey. But, we cannot give up and we will have other opportunities, and I hope that we will do something great with Kosovo as well,” Vojvoda emphasized.
At the conference on Saturday, Foda also spoke about Erblin Osmani, the talent who debuted at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He said that it was a conversation to get to know each other, but emphasized that he is a footballer with potential.
Finally, Foda and Vojvoda also gave predictions for the World Cup that starts on Thursday.
Foda said that his favorites are France, Spain, Germany and England, while the surprise of the tournament could be Norway.
For Vojvoda, the favorites are France and Portugal, but he sees Spain as the winner.