ani ▁first ▁became ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Alban ia ▁U 2 1 ▁team ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁where ▁he ▁scored ▁on ▁his ▁official ▁debut ▁in ▁a ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁UEFA ▁European ▁Under - 2 1 ▁Football ▁Championship ▁qual ification ▁match ▁against ▁Portugal ▁on ▁ 9 ▁October ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁Following ▁his ▁goal ▁however , ▁he ▁was ▁sent ▁off ▁after ▁receiving ▁the ▁first ▁red ▁card ▁of ▁his ▁career ▁just ▁ 4 ▁minutes ▁after ▁scoring ▁his ▁first ▁international ▁goal ▁and ▁Alban ia ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁lose ▁the ▁game ▁ 4 – 2 . ▁Over all ▁he ▁made ▁ 7 ▁official ▁appearances ▁and ▁scored ▁ 1 ▁goal ▁as ▁Alban ia ▁finished ▁Group ▁ 9 ▁in ▁ 5 th ▁place . ▁ ▁Under - 2 3 ▁Bog d ani ▁was ▁called ▁up ▁to ▁Alban ia ▁under - 2 3 ▁by ▁coach ▁S ule j man ▁M ema ▁to ▁particip ate ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁Mediter rane an ▁Games ▁football ▁tournament , ▁which ▁began ▁on ▁ 8 ▁June ▁in ▁Southern ▁Italy . ▁Alban ia ▁U 2 3 ▁were ▁short ed ▁in ▁Group ▁B ▁among ▁Y ug oslav ia ▁and ▁Italy . ▁Bog d ani ▁played ▁as ▁a ▁half - time ▁substitute ▁for ▁Mah ir ▁Hal ili ▁against ▁Y ug oslav ia ▁U 2 3 ▁and ▁scored ▁in ▁the ▁ 6 0 th ▁minute ▁the ▁only ▁Alban ia ▁U 2 3 ' s ▁goal ▁in ▁a ▁ 4 – 1 ▁loss . ▁In ▁the ▁second ▁fi xture ▁against ▁Italy