Basil Tuma Named in Malta's Provisional Squad for UEFA Nations League
Basil Tuma’s remarkable rise continued on Monday 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, making the step from Reading to the National League. He has wasted no time leaving a mark. Eight appearances into his Aldershot career, Tuma has helped drive the Shots into eighth place, with 15 points and a growing sense that they have found a genuine livewire out wide.
His journey to this point has been anything but straightforward.
Born in Uganda, Tuma first pulled on national colours for his home country at the 2020 CECAFA Under-17 Championship, a stage that showcased his raw pace and direct running. Two years later, in September 2022, his international path took a sharp turn when he was called up by Malta’s Under-19s, opening the door to a new footballing identity.
That door is now firmly open at senior level. Tuma made his full Malta debut in October 2024, coming on at half-time and immediately tilting the game. His driving run earned a penalty, a decisive contribution that underlined why the national set-up has kept faith with him. Since then he has collected seven further caps, steadily embedding himself in the squad.
Upcoming Fixtures
Now comes another important block of games.
- Malta face a demanding fortnight in the UEFA Nations League, starting with a trip to Andorra on 24 September.
- After that away assignment, they return home to host Liechtenstein in a friendly on 27 September, a fixture that should offer fringe players and emerging talents like Tuma valuable minutes.
- The schedule then tightens again. Gibraltar visit Malta on 1 October for another Nations League clash, before the reverse fixture with Andorra rounds off the window on 4 October.
For Aldershot, it is a clear sign of how far their summer signing has come in a short space of time. For Malta, it is another chance to harness a winger whose career has already crossed borders and confounded expectations — and who now has the platform to shape their autumn campaign.
