SUPERIORE/ AFF’s new rule: here’s how many young players were activated and how many Skënderbeu activated

One of the important new features of the new “Abissnet Superiore” season has already started to produce concrete results. The new rule introduced by the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) requiring the mandatory use of young players has created more opportunities for Albanian talents to prove themselves in the country’s top-flight football.

According to the regulation approved by the AFF Executive Committee, starting from the 2026–2027 season, in the Abissnet Superiore championship and the Albanian Cup, each team will be required to start at least one player born in 2007 or later, with an Albanian passport, for at least one half of the game.

In the opening week of the championship, the new rule led to 17 young players being given playing time, demonstrating that the AFF’s policy of providing more opportunities for Albanian talents is already being put into practice from the very start of the season.

Beyond the numbers, however, the opening week also produced new protagonists. Briajan Gjyla of Vora, born in 2007, became decisive in the match against Dinamo City, scoring the winning goal in Vora’s 1–0 victory. His performance immediately put him in the spotlight in the opening round of the championship.

Gjyla, together with Partizani’s Dion Vata, another young player who featured in the opening week, was selected by the AFF Technical Directorate for the best XI of the first week of the “Abissnet Superiore.”

At Tirana, five young players were featured: Olti Qerimaj (2007), Mateo Maçi (2009), Aimar Bami (2008), Serxho Vogli (2008), and Serxho Prendi (2008).

Egnatia featured Reis Bakalli (2007) and Zyber Çullhaj (2008), while Teuta gave playing time to Ergis Arifi (2007) and Grei Kuqi (2008).

During the opening week, the following players also made their top-flight debuts: Sokol Uldedaj (2009) for Vllaznia, Spasian Nasto (2008) and Kleart Grazhdani (2007) for Skënderbeu, Dion Vata (2009) for Partizani, Klevi Ajazi (2008) for Laçi, Armir Borici (2008) for AF Elbasani, Skënder Meta (2007) for Dinamo City, and Briajan Gjyla (2007) for Vora.

These figures also highlight another important element: clubs are not limiting themselves to a single age group, but are giving opportunities to players born in 2007, 2008, and 2009, creating a more direct bridge between youth football and the highest level.

The new rule is part of the AFF’s strategy for the development of Albanian football, increasing opportunities for young footballers, and creating a stronger foundation for the national teams. The aim is for Albanian talents to gain experience, competition, and playing time at the highest levels, gradually building the next generations of the national team.

The opening week of the “Abissnet Superiore” showed that young talents are now being given not only the opportunity to be on the pitch, but also the space to become protagonists and make a decisive impact for their teams.

“KORÇA BOOM”