The Irish FA have accepted an invitation to play in Albania because international manager Nigel Worthington is determined to improve his team’s away record.
Northern Ireland have won only one of their last seven away games. The 3-0 win in San Marino last February being the only time Worthington has enjoyed a victory outside of Belfast while in charge of the team.
With the challenge of trying to take Northern Ireland to a first ever European Championship finals facing Worthington, who will put pen to paper on a new two-year contract today, he knows that points must be picked up on the road if the dream is to become a reality.
“We had other offers of matches, but none of them were what we wanted football wise,” said Kennedy.
“There were teams who wanted to come and play us at Windsor Park, but the manager wants to sort out the away form and thought it would be better to go and play somewhere else.
“We could draw Albania in the European Championships, but no matter what it will be a difficult game and a good test for the team going into those qualifiers.
“We tried to do our best in getting a game that was financially beneficial, but that is not always possible so you have to take the next best option that’s available to you.
“There was the possibility of holding a training camp, but it’s better to play a game and get the players involved in something competitive.”
Albania remains a European footballing outpost despite the end of communist rule in the country.
Northern Ireland haven’t played in Tirana since a 2-1 win in February 1993, with the last meeting between the sides — a 1-0 win for Albania — taking place in Zurich, Switzerland because of civil unrest in the country at the time.*
Source:belfasttelegraph.co.uk/
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