Samoa Stun Fiji To Claim Best-ever Finish At OFC Women's Nations Cup
It marks Samoa's highest finish at an OFC Women's Nations Cup, beating their previous best effort of fourth from the 2022 edition.
Positioned 20 places below Fiji on the FIFA™ rankings, Samoa stunned the tournament hosts early on with a special display of finishing from Lilly Dowsing.
After linking up with Oteta Kitiona at the top of the box, Dowsing turned the ball onto her right foot and picked out the top left corner to open the scoring inside eight minutes.
A further eight minutes later she made it two, leaving Ka'iulani Scott with no chance by picking out the top right corner of the net with the help of the underside of the crossbar.
It proved the decisive period of the match, Dowsing giving Samoa a two-goal lead they would never relinquish.
Fiji tried to conjure a response before the break, but Kamy Anaya in the Samoan goal proved hard to beat.
Sereana Naweni saw a long-range effort parried soon after falling behind, whilst Narieta Leba came close with two efforts late in the half.
By the time the second stanza had started, Fijian coach Angeline Chua had already made three of the five changes available to her, bringing all of Ema Mereia, Koleta Likuculacula, and Trina Davis into the action to try and spark a comeback.
Likuculacula's free kick effort that struck the base of the crossbar signified Fiji's intent to intensify their efforts after the break, but despite dominating close to all of the possession and territory, they couldn't find a way through Samoa's rearguard.
Around the hour mark Mereia cut inside off the right flank and took on Anaya, only to have her effort parried behind, before Cema Nasau sent a header inches over the top of the crossbar from the following corner delivery.
Samoa came close to scoring a third against the run of play soon after, when Oteta Kitiona nodded her header onto the top of the crossbar. Victory looked apparent in the 75th minute though, when Elesi Tabunase pulled a shot wide of the bottom-left corner from point-blank range effort, summing up Fiji's woes in front of goal.
Fiji continued to prode and poke through the closing stages but couldn't find a way through as Samoa held on to close out their campaign with an historic win.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Scoop
Fiji Coach Doubles Down On Claim NZ Rugby Contracts Restrict Players From Representing Pacific Nations
Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has told RNZ Pacific that New Zealand-based players of Pacific Island heritage have signed letters of agreement attached to their contracts, which bar them from playing for teams other than the All Blacks. In an exclusive interview with RNZ Pacific, Byrne said that while New Zealand Rugby has publicly stated that players contracted to NZ-based Super Rugby clubs are free to choose which national team they want to represent, he has been told otherwise. This follows comments he made in June, stating that some players of Fijian heritage playing Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand have been unable to play for Fiji because their contracts ban them from doing so. Byrne claims he has spoken to some player agents who confirmed that there is an agreement players sign, and these are attached to their contracts. "I know New Zealand Rugby came out and said they're not contracted; well to the letter of the law, they're probably not, but they have a letter attached to their contract that they signed that they can't play," Byrne said. "At the moment, I'm trying to chase down a couple of players. Since we spoke, a couple of the players have been taken into wider training squads, but there's still a couple of players there that I'd like to talk to, but we still need to get their approval. "I know New Zealand Rugby said I was wrong, but I've done some investigations and spoken with agents, and they've told me that the players actually signed a letter attached to their contract, and there's a little bit more to it. "I'd actually like to get some more details. I'm investigating and trying to find out exactly where we're at." However, he said there is light at the end of the tunnel, as there is a process that can be followed to get players released from their current arrangements while still honouring their player contracts. "But my understanding is I can't just say if a player wants to play for Fiji. I can't just sign him and get him to play. "I have to go through a process to get him cleared to be released from current letter of arrangement that New Zealand Rugby have with these players." Last month, a New Zealand Rugby spokesperson told RNZ Pacific that, while the they could not comment on individual players, the union was clear on what it can do, including offering contracts to up to three players who may not opt to play for New Zealand. Responding to Byrne's claims on Monday, New Zealand Rugby maintained that players have the freedom to choose which national union pathway they wish to pursue and that is declared at the time they sign their contracts. "NZR's five Super Rugby Pacific clubs have the ability to contract up to three 'non-NZ eligible players' who have already played internationally (including for Pacific Island nations Samoa, Tonga or Fiji) or who have declared their intent to play internationally for a non-NZ national team at international level and therefore not make themselves eligible for NZ national teams. "All other players contracted to NZR's five Super Rugby clubs have declared their availability and intention to represent NZ national teams over the duration of their contract." Byrne is interested to discuss options with Blues' Hoskins Sotutu, Crusaders' George Bower and Highlanders pair Jona Nareki and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Former All Black Sotutu will be eligible to play for Fiji this year and is also eligible for England through his mother. Bower, who was also going to be eligible to play for Fiji this year, has since been recalled into the All Blacks by head coach Scot Robertson, and is named on the bench for Saturday's third Test against France in Hamilton. Both Nareki and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens are currently contracted to the Highlanders and have both indicated their willingness to play for Fiji. Byrne said he will continue to pursue the issue and hopes to have some positive news soon. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in 24 months, the Fiji head coach is hopeful he will be able to use some of the New Zealand-based players during the 2026 build-up campaign.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Write History With First OFC Women's Nations Cup Crown
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation The Solomon Islands have defeated Papua New Guinea 3-2 after extra-time at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, winning the OFC Women's Nations Cup 2025 title, and their very-first continental crown. Thrice the Solomon Islands took the lead, but twice ten-man Papua New Guinea reeled them back in to force the game to extra-time, where substitute Jemina David scored the winner to secure a piece of history. In doing so, the Solomon Islands become the fifth different nation to win the OFC Women's Nations Cup, etching themselves into the record books for eternity. Playing in their first-ever OFC Women's Nations Cup final, the Solomon Islands weren't overawed by the occasion and got off to a hot start under the lights in Suva. Lorina Solosaia had scored the goal when the Solomon Islands held Papua New Guinea to a draw during the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament last year and was the first to have a say in the final. In the 18th minute she latched onto a loose ball through the middle of the pitch, before advancing into the box and rolling a shot into the bottom left corner of the net on her right foot, handing her nation a shock lead. It was almost two goals four minutes later, when Almah Gogoni was played in-behind the Papua New Guinea defence but Lavina Hola came to the rescue with a top save to divert the ball away from the bottom left corner of the net again. Papua New Guinea had played in two finals before, but were clearly rocked after conceding, and struggled to settle into the game. With ten minutes left in the first half, Keren Kalapai came close to springing them into life, smashing the crossbar with a long-range effort on her left foot. The goal came soon after in the 42nd minute, when goal-keeper Zainab Donga spilled a delivery into the box, and Papua New Guinea captain Ramona Padio was on hand to tap the ball into the net from point-blank range to level the game. Still celebrating the goal, it all came crashing down for Papua New Guinea almost straight from the restart though. Defender Merolyne Sali was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Madeline Arukau on the edge of her own box, from which the Solomons attacker stepped up to convert the direct free kick into the top of the net on her right foot. Papua New Guinea were behind on the scoreboard again, except this time they had a whole second half ahead of them with just ten players on the pitch. Despite the odds, the defending champions still harboured belief and pushed forward in numbers in search of a response. Captain Padio stood up again when needed most to level the final back up, scoring her second goal of the game in the 65th minute with a direct free kick that beat Donga into the top of the net, helped by the crossbar. Locked at two goals apiece, and with the game wide open, extra-time was quick to dawn in Suva – the first time it had ever been required in an OFC Women's Nations Cup final. Finally, Papua New Guinea began to fatigue as the realities of playing with just ten came to fruition though, allowing substitute Jemina David to pounce for the Solomon Islands four minutes into the start of the extra half hour. Played in behind by Ileen Pegi, slotted the ball past Hola to give the Solomons the lead for the third time, and for most importantly, the final time. There was no response from Papua New Guinea on this occasion as weary legs began to get the better of them, and any efforts to get Marie Kaipu involved up top were largely restricted. Instead, the Solomon Islands slowed the game down and managed the remainder of extra-time to seal an historic win, and the nation's greatest ever footballing achievement in the women's game.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Solomon Islands Write History With First OFC Women's Nations Cup Crown
Thrice the Solomon Islands took the lead, but twice ten-man Papua New Guinea reeled them back in to force the game to extra-time, where substitute Jemina David scored the winner to secure a piece of history. In doing so, the Solomon Islands become the fifth different nation to win the OFC Women's Nations Cup, etching themselves into the record books for eternity. Playing in their first-ever OFC Women's Nations Cup final, the Solomon Islands weren't overawed by the occasion and got off to a hot start under the lights in Suva. Lorina Solosaia had scored the goal when the Solomon Islands held Papua New Guinea to a draw during the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament last year and was the first to have a say in the final. In the 18th minute she latched onto a loose ball through the middle of the pitch, before advancing into the box and rolling a shot into the bottom left corner of the net on her right foot, handing her nation a shock lead. It was almost two goals four minutes later, when Almah Gogoni was played in-behind the Papua New Guinea defence but Lavina Hola came to the rescue with a top save to divert the ball away from the bottom left corner of the net again. Papua New Guinea had played in two finals before, but were clearly rocked after conceding, and struggled to settle into the game. With ten minutes left in the first half, Keren Kalapai came close to springing them into life, smashing the crossbar with a long-range effort on her left foot. The goal came soon after in the 42nd minute, when goal-keeper Zainab Donga spilled a delivery into the box, and Papua New Guinea captain Ramona Padio was on hand to tap the ball into the net from point-blank range to level the game. Still celebrating the goal, it all came crashing down for Papua New Guinea almost straight from the restart though. Defender Merolyne Sali was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Madeline Arukau on the edge of her own box, from which the Solomons attacker stepped up to convert the direct free kick into the top of the net on her right foot. Papua New Guinea were behind on the scoreboard again, except this time they had a whole second half ahead of them with just ten players on the pitch. Despite the odds, the defending champions still harboured belief and pushed forward in numbers in search of a response. Captain Padio stood up again when needed most to level the final back up, scoring her second goal of the game in the 65th minute with a direct free kick that beat Donga into the top of the net, helped by the crossbar. Locked at two goals apiece, and with the game wide open, extra-time was quick to dawn in Suva - the first time it had ever been required in an OFC Women's Nations Cup final. Finally, Papua New Guinea began to fatigue as the realities of playing with just ten came to fruition though, allowing substitute Jemina David to pounce for the Solomon Islands four minutes into the start of the extra half hour. Played in behind by Ileen Pegi, slotted the ball past Hola to give the Solomons the lead for the third time, and for most importantly, the final time. There was no response from Papua New Guinea on this occasion as weary legs began to get the better of them, and any efforts to get Marie Kaipu involved up top were largely restricted. Instead, the Solomon Islands slowed the game down and managed the remainder of extra-time to seal an historic win, and the nation's greatest ever footballing achievement in the women's game.
