Basil Tuma Named in Malta’s Provisional Squad for UEFA Matches

Basil Tuma’s rapid rise continued on Thursday as the Aldershot Town winger was named in Malta’s provisional 29-man squad for their upcoming international fixtures.

The 21-year-old only arrived at the EBB Stadium in the summer, signing from Reading, but has wasted no time making an impression. Eight appearances into his Aldershot career, he has helped drive the Shots into eighth place in the table, collecting 15 points and injecting real pace and direct running into their attack.

Born in Uganda, Tuma first pulled on national colours for his homeland at the 2020 CECAFA Under-17 Championship. His international path then took a sharp turn. By September 2022 he was lining up for Malta’s Under-19s, a switch that opened the door to senior football in Europe.

That door is now wide open. Tuma made his senior debut for Malta in October 2024, coming off the bench at half-time and immediately changing the game’s rhythm, winning a penalty. Since that breakthrough, he has added seven more caps, becoming a regular presence in the squad.

The next fortnight offers another test of his growing status. Malta face three UEFA Nations League matches in quick succession, starting away to Andorra on 24 September. After that, they break from competitive action briefly to host Liechtenstein in a friendly on 27 September, a chance for fringe players in the provisional group to push their case.

Then the schedule tightens again. Gibraltar travel to Malta on 1 October in a key Nations League tie, before Andorra make the return trip on 4 October. For Tuma, it is another window to cement his place in a national side still shaping its future – and to carry the momentum of his Aldershot form onto the international stage.