Malta national team coach Emilio De Leo has reduced his provisional squad from 29 to 26 players ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Nations League encounter against Andorra.

The match, which marks Malta’s opening fixture in the 2026/27 Nations League campaign, will be played at the Estadi FAF Encamp in Andorra la Vella, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm.

De Leo has retained three goalkeepers, ten defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards in his final selection.

The three players omitted from the initial squad are Hibernians midfielder Jayden Roe, Valletta forward Kevin Cannavò and Hibernians player Joseph Mbong.

Mbong is suspended for the opening Nations League encounter against Andorra.

The squad includes Ħamrun Spartans defender Ryan Camenzuli, who returns to the national team set-up after missing the June international window through injury.

Experienced players Henry Bonello, Zach Muscat, Matthew Guillaumier and Teddy Teuma are also included, while De Leo has retained several younger players as Malta prepares to begin its League D Group D1 commitments.

Following Thursday’s encounter, Malta will return home for an international friendly against Liechtenstein on Sunday, 27 September, before hosting Gibraltar on 1 October and Andorra on 4 October in their remaining Nations League fixtures during the international window.

Malta’s final 26-man squad

Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Sliema Wanderers), Rashed Al Tumi (Birkirkara), James Sissons (Chesterfield, England).

Defenders: Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), Juan Carlos Corbalan (Marsaxlokk), Ryan Camenzuli (Ħamrun Spartans), Kurt Shaw (Hibernians), Enrico Pepe (Marsaxlokk), Jean Borg (Sliema Wanderers), Kean Scicluna (Ħamrun Spartans), Gabriel Mentz (Gżira United), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (Floriana), Myles Beerman (Floriana).

Midfielders: Matthew Guillaumier (Ħamrun Spartans), Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta), Alexander Satariano (Sliema Wanderers), Jake Azzopardi (Valletta), Teddy Teuma (Sliema Wanderers), Adam Magri Overend (Sliema Wanderers).

Forwards: Paul Mbong (Floriana), Ilyas Chouaref (Sion, Switzerland), Jake Grech (Ħamrun Spartans), Irvin Cardona (AS Saint-Étienne, France), Basil Tuma (Aldershot Town, England), Keyon Ewurum (Valletta), Andrea Zammit (Valletta).