The Malta women’s national team coach Manuela Tesse announced the provisional squad ahead of two international friendly matches against Belarus as part of the team’s ongoing preparations for next year’s European Qualification campaign.
The matches will take place at the Centenary Stadium, Ta’ Qali, on Saturday, October 25 (kick-off: 7.30pm) and Tuesday, October 28 (kick-off: 7pm).
These friendlies mark another important step in Malta’s build-up to the upcoming 2027 World Cup qualifications, where the national team will once again be competing in League B after achieving promotion earlier this year.
The draw for the upcoming qualification campaign will take place on November 4, and these matches will provide a valuable opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate players and fine-tune tactical approaches ahead of the new competition cycle.
Included in the squad are multiple players from the domestic league leaders, Mġarr United, in goalkeepers Giulia D’Antuono, Patricia Ebejer, Leanne Cefai, Rebecca Bajada, Amber Grech and Yulya Carella.
Tesse called up several foreign-based players as well, including Emma Lipman who scored for Genoa Women in their 3-1 win over Ternana in the Serie A Femminile.
Maya Lucia is also called up. She made her Apollon Limassol debut on Saturday, registering an assist in a 6-1 win too.
Haley Bugeja, who is in a rich vein of form at Inter, is also named with the forward already scoring 7 goals in 11 matches this season.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Maya Cachia (Hibernians), Giulia D’Antuono (Mġarr United), Patricia Ebejer (Mġarr United),
DEFENDERS
Rebecca Bajada (Mġarr United), Fiona Buttigieg (Luton Town Ladies, England), Mariah Cardona (Birkirkara), Leanne Cefai (Mġarr United), Jessica Dimech (Hibernians), Tammy Falzon (Swieqi United), Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara), Alexandra Gatt (Hull City Ladies, England) Oceane Grange (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Emma Lipman (Genoa, Italy), Maya Lucia (Apollon Ladies, Cyprus), Georgiana Mifsud (Hibernians) Valentina Rapa (Swieqi United), Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United).
MIDFIELDERS
Jana Barbara (VfR Warbeyen, Germany), Michaela Cachia (Swieqi United), Rachel Cuschieri (Genoa, Italy), Amber Grech (Mgarr United), Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians), Sarah Urpani (Swieqi United), Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).
FORWARDS
Leah Ayres (Hibernians) Haley Bugeja (Inter, Italy), Yulya Carella (Mġarr United), Maria Farrugia (Bristol City, England), Kailey Willis (Brescia Calcio Femminile, Italy).
Youth teams in action
Malta U19’s coach David Attard has named a 19-player squad for the team’s upcoming double-header against Lebanon.
The team will be taking on Lebanon at the Centenary Stadium twice in the space of three days in the coming week.
The first match will be played on Wednesday, October 22 and then on Friday, October 24 (kick-off: 3pm both).
These matches will serve as preparation ahead of their upcoming UEFA WU19 European Championship Round 1 campaign, where Malta will be playing in Group 6 of League B. Malta, the group’s hosts, will be joined by Israel, Latvia, and Kazakhstan.
At U17s level, coach Clint Tabone has named a 20-player squad for the upcoming international friendlies away to Romania.
They will be playing two friendly matches at the National Football Centre in Buftea, Romania, as they continue their preparation for the upcoming qualifying campaign.
The first match against Romania will be played on Friday, October 24. The second match will take place on Sunday, October 26 (kick-off: 12pm both).
Coach Tabone’s team will use these two matches as preparation for the UEFA WU17 European Championship Round 1, where Malta has been drawn in Group 5 in League B, together with Sweden and Lithuania. Malta will be hosting the tournament.
As a result, the team will be looking to build some momentum ahead of the matches, with the Group 5 matches set to take place early in November.
U19 SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Erika Muscat (Swieqi United), Maya Muscat (Hibernians), Julia Maria Zarb (Birkirkara).
DEFENDERS
Lara May Azzopardi (Birkirkara), Ylenia Azzopardi (Swieqi United), Francesca Bartolo (Hibernians), Amber Galea (Hibernians), Maia Gauci (Birkirkara), Thea Ida Scicluna (Swieqi United).
MIDFIELDERS
Lexine Farrugia (Roma, Italy), Suzanne Farrugia Sacco (Hibernians), Stella Francalanza (Birkirkara), Ema Micallef (Swieqi United), Amelia Vassallo (Birkirkara).
FORWARDS
Lisa Calleja (Hibernians), Nyorah Celeste (Hibernians), Crista Chetcuti Ganado (Leicester City. England), Tea Kimamo (Swieqi United), Thais Muscat (San Gwann).
U17 SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Katelyn Camilleri (Swieqi ZSP), Ezlyana Degiorgio (Hibernians)
DEFENDERS
Amy Catania (Hibernians), Erika Cini (Valletta), Kesia Farrugia (Valletta), Jade Galea (Hibernians), Edeson Grixti (Hibernians), Amy Portelli (Swieqi United), Krista Sacco (Birkirkara), Sara Anneloes Shaladi (Swieqi ZSP).
MIDFIELDERS
Kay Axiak (Birkirkara), Amy Borg (Swieqi ZSP), Alanah Ghio (Hibernians), Ana Mercieca (Birkirkara), Nina-Lee Naudi (Sampdoria, Italy), Olivia Nazarko (Hibernians), Isabelle Said (Liverpool International Academy, Canada)
FORWARDS
Amberley Borg (Swieqi ZSP), Gloria Cassar (Birkirkara), Alessandra Consoli (Oratory Youths).