Manuela Tesse names squad ahead of final two Women’s European Qualifiers

Women’s national team head coach Manuela Tesse revealed the final squad for the UEFA European Qualifiers matches against Northern Ireland and Portugal. These matches will bring to an end Malta’s qualification campaign for the 2025 tournament.

The team is set to play Northern Ireland on Friday, July 12, in the final home game, which will kick off at 19:30 at the Centenary Stadium. The campaign will conclude with an away game against Portugal on July 16 at the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria, starting at 19:00. Competing in Group B3, Malta’s opponents included Bosnia-Herzegovina along with Northern Ireland and Portugal.

Malta earned just one point from the four matches played so far following a draw with Northern Ireland away from home, a defeat to Portugal at Ta’ Qali and back-to-back defeats to Bosnia and Herzegovina. To avoid relegation, Malta needs a win over Northern Ireland, hoping that the latter fail to collect any points from the home match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Coach Tesse’s squad comprises a blend of experienced players and promising young talent, aiming to build a robust team for these critical fixtures and future competitions. 

GOALKEEPERS                                   

Maya Cachia (No Club), Raisa Costantino (No Club), Patricia Ebejer (Mgarr United FC)

DEFENDERS                                                       

Rebecca Bajada (Mgarr United FC), Stephania Farrugia Birkirkara FC), Alexandra Gatt (Durham, England), Emma Lipman (No Club), Valentina Rapa (Birkirkara FC), Ann Marie Said (Birkirkara FC), Jade Schembri (Swieqi United), Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United), Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara FC) 

MIDFIELDERS                                     

Brenda Borg (Mgarr United FC), Rachel Cuschieri (No Club), Maia Debono (Mgarr United FC), Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara FC), Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians FC), Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara FC), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United FC)

STRIKERS                                            

Haley Bugeja (Inter Milano, Italy), Lexine Farrugia (No Club), Maria Farrugia (No Club), Jade Flask (Swieqi United FC), Maya Lucia (No Club), Kailey Willis (No Club).