Fiji’s coach Angeline Chua acknowledges the challenges ahead as the team prepares for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia. This marks a significant milestone as the Young Kulas become the first Fijian women’s team to qualify for a global tournament, representing an emerging force in regional football.
Drawn in a tough group with football powerhouses Brazil, France, and Canada, the players will rely on their determination and belief to perform well on an international stage. Chua expressed excitement about the opportunity to compete against top-tier nations, noting the difficulty of the group they are in, where all opponents are ranked within the top ten at the senior level.
Chua emphasized the importance of this opportunity for Fiji, stating that it is significant to be representing Oceania instead of other nations that they surpassed to qualify. After finishing as runners-up to New Zealand at the 2023 OFC U-19 Women’s Championship, the team faced disappointment when Oceania had only one slot available. However, an expansion of the tournament allowed Fiji a chance to participate.
With a majority of the squad based in Fiji, Chua is hopeful that the inclusion of three overseas players, particularly Talei Moodie, who is excelling in the college ranks in the United States, will enhance the team’s quality. Following a narrow defeat to Costa Rica in a warm-up match, expectations have begun to rise regarding their competitiveness in Colombia, although Chua insists on maintaining realistic goals.
The coach set two objectives for the tournament: to score their first goal and to minimize the number of goals conceded for as long as possible. Understanding that they might be defending most of the time, Chua is focusing the team’s training on defensive strategies.
She recognizes the formidable challenge they face, citing that even teams with more experience, like New Zealand, have struggled at the senior level. Chua believes it would be overly ambitious to target a win or a spot in the knockout stages, stating that their main goal is to be resilient, work as a team, and keep the scoreline as close as possible.
Fiji’s schedule includes a match against Brazil on Sunday at 11 AM, followed by games against Canada on September 4 at 1 PM, and France on September 7 at 1 PM.