Fiji’s under-20 women’s football team is set to make history as they prepare for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia in 2024. As debutants in this prestigious tournament, the team understands the challenges ahead, especially after being placed in a tough group alongside Brazil, Canada, and France.
Having become the first Fijian women’s team to qualify for a global finals, they are already trailblazers for women’s football in their country. However, the international stage presents a new level of difficulty. Head coach Angeline Chua expressed excitement about their opportunity, acknowledging the strength of their opponents.
The Fiji team secured its place in the World Cup after finishing as runners-up to New Zealand at the 2023 OFC U19 Women’s Championship. Initially disheartened because Oceania was granted only one slot, the expansion of the tournament allowed Fiji to qualify.
With most of the squad based in Fiji, Chua hopes that the three overseas players, including standout Talei Moodie from Fullerton, can enhance the team’s capabilities. A close loss to Costa Rica in a recent warm-up match has raised expectations, but Chua emphasizes the importance of maintaining realistic goals.
The team’s primary objectives are to score their first tournament goal and to manage to keep an opponent from scoring for as long as possible. Chua, originally from Singapore, has a unique journey to this moment, having played for over a decade before stepping into coaching.
She acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead, particularly in comparison to teams from more established football nations. Fiji aims to perform well despite the odds, focusing on resilience and teamwork during the tournament.