Fiji have joined New Zealand and New Caledonia as Oceania’s representatives at next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup™. The Junior Bula Boys saw off Papua New Guinea 1-0 in the third-place playoff at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship to complete the trio of Oceania qualifiers. The same three nations will also fly the OFC flag at this year’s edition of the tournament, set to take place in Qatar from 3 to 27 November.
Having fallen in the semi-finals of the continental championship earlier in the week, Fiji and Papua New Guinea had one last shot to reach the global finals and it was the former that went to the break with a slender advantage.
The impressive Ryan Achari was again an influential figure and he latched on to a lofted ball from the back, danced his way around a defender and steered a shot past Luther Rodney midway through the opening stanza.
Possession and momentum swung PNG’s way after the break but outside of a half chance from captain Bomecge Basananuc and a late effort that Fiji keeper Kirikiti Biu scrambled clear, they rarely threatened to draw level. The win secured historic back-to-back U-17 World Cup qualification for Fiji.
Later in the afternoon in Honiara, goals in either half from Jack Clegg and a spectacular volleyed effort from Ben Perez Baldoni secured New Zealand a 2-0 win over New Caledonia in the final. That made it a record-extending tenth consecutive title for the Oceania heavyweights, who won the tournament without conceding a goal in their five outings.
“I feel very proud of the boys, we set the goal that we wanted to achieve back-to-back World Cup qualification and this is the first time that we are going for the second time. The World Cup is the biggest stage and the boys are so, so excited to be heading there next year.”
Sunil Kumar, Fiji head coach
“People think that for New Zealand it is easy to win these tournaments because we do it regularly in men’s and women’s football but it’s not easy by any stretch and I’m so proud of all the staff and players. We made it our target not to concede a goal and we take great pride that we could do that. Now we can look ahead to the World Cup, with a lot of this squad likely to be involved later this year.”
Martin Bullock, New Zealand head coach
Champions: New Zealand
Runners-up: New Caledonia
Third place: Fiji
Golden Ball: Ethan Dyer (New Zealand)
Golden Boot: Ben Perez Baldoni (New Zealand)
Golden Glove: Sylvain Ipeze (New Caledonia)
Fair Play Award: Tahiti and Samoa
Images courtesy of OFC/Phototek
