OFC U16 women's final: Samoa ready to challenge defending champs New Zealand

RNZ News

4 days ago

Samoa's Breanna Kitiona and New Zealand's Ameila Hitchcock ready for the OFC 2025 U16 Women's Championship at the Samoa Football HQ Apia. 13 August 2025
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
Samoa's national under-16 women's soccer team captain is confident her side will be able to hold its own against New Zealand when the two teams clash in the final of the Oceania Football confederation (OFC) 2025 Under-16 Women's Championship in Apia on Thursday.
Playing at home and currently riding high after securing their second FIFA Under-17 World Cup spot in two years, Samoa has been the in-form team at the tournament, alongside the favourites and defending champions New Zealand.
New Zealand has represented Oceania at the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup seven times, finishing third in 2018.
While the junior Football Ferns are tipped to win the final again, there is an air of silent confidence in the Samoan camp.
Playing at home makes the occasion even more special for Kitiona and the team.
"It's exciting to do it here in Samoa and represent our country and villages," Samoa captain Breanna Kitiona told OFC on Wednesday.
"We've seen what New Zealand can do and I can't wait to see what they bring.
"I think it's been really exciting to see every team grow here. It's very special to be on home soil, playing against so many different styles of play, and I can't wait for tomorrow."
Samoa's Makeli Leonard and Fiji's Teonila Levuiciva tussle for possession during the OFC U16 Women's Championship on Monday. 4 August 2025
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
Her head coach Juan Chang Urrea, who has now guided Samoa to back-to-back finals and consecutive FIFA Under-17 World Cup berths, said his team has stayed committed and had self belief.
"We feel blessed to be here at home," he said.
"It's a double blessing to play in the final. Hopefully, we create a pathway for Samoa football.
"New Zealand is a tough opponent, so we have to bring our A game tomorrow."
He said the unity in his squad and their commitment to the plan deserves praise.
"Bringing our team together from different parts of the world is not easy, but the girls believe in what we do,"he stated.
"All credit goes to them. We've had several camps this year, and it's great to see that investment paying off.
"For tomorrow, we are excited but also realistic. We are at home, but New Zealand is a tough opponent. We must bring our A-game."
The team's semi-final 5-0 win over Solomon Islands on Monday sent them into the OFC final and secured them a world cup spot next year.
Samoa's Madison Cahill and Tahiti's Moerani More during their OFC 2025 U16 Women's Championship in Apia. 7 August 2025.
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
New Zealand captain Amelia Hitchcock said the final clash will be tough.
"It's been really good, a really fun tournament," she told OFC.
"Playing in the final is going to be hard but we're up for the challenge."
New Zealand coach Alana Gunn said Samoa in the final will be a different challenge.
"The tournament's been great," the coach said.
"For this group of players, it's provided a good level of challenge on and off the pitch, which is always good from a development perspective.
"Obviously, there's a tough opponent in Samoa, looking strong through pool play. It's another timely challenge for these girls to test their resilience and ability to back up after a tough couple of weeks."
The final will be preceded by the third place play-off between losing semi-finalists Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.
Meanwhile, Tahiti closed out their campaign in seventh spot, defeating American Samoa 2-0.
In another upset at the event, Tonga defeated Fiji 1-0 to claim fifth spot.
India-May Mann sealed the win for Tonga with a 70th minute strike.