The first edition of the VisitMalta Women’s Tournament kicks-off on Thursday with the first match between Malta and Slovakia at the Hibernians Stadium, kick-off at 14:30.

Malta, currently ranked 85th in the FIFA rankings, take on Slovakia, ranked 45th, on Thursday, February 18.

For this tournament, Gatt and his newly-appointed assistant, Dionne Tonna, has made a few changes from the squad for the final UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 qualifying wins Georgia and Israel late last year with his selection also including some new faces. Lazio duo Emma Lipman and Rachel Cuschieri, Sassari Torres’ forward Martina Borg, Nicole Sciberras, of Juventus, and Sunderland’s Maria Farrugia are part of the squad but Ylenia Carabott, of Belgian club RCSC Charleroi, and Maya Lucia, of Raiders Għargħur are missing through injury. US Sassuolo’s Haley Bugeja is unavailable as she is gradually recovering from a slight injury which has limited her playing time lately. Kailey Willis, currently playing for Italian side Hellas Verona, has earned her first call-up at senior level after representing Malta at youth level.

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Janice Xuereb (Birkirkara); Patricia Ebejer (Mġarr United).

DEFENDERS
Stephania Farrugia, Alishia Sultana, Ann-Marie Said (all Birkirkara); Charlene Zammit, Jade Flask, Jade Schembri (all Swieqi United), Emma Lipman (Lazio, Italy); Nicole Sciberras (Juventus, Italy).

MIDFIELDERS
Simone Buttigieg (Kirkop United); Emma Xuereb, Shona Zammit, Kayleigh Chetcuti (all Swieqi United); Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara); Rachel Cuschieri (Lazio, Italy); Brenda Borg (Mġarr United).

FORWARDS
Kailey Willis (Hellas Verona, Italy); Martina Borg (Sassari Torres, Italy); Maria Farrugia (Sunderland, England).