Samoa secured a spot in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup by defeating New Caledonia 2-0 in the semi-finals of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship held in Suva.
The match began with Samoa quickly taking control, scoring two goals within the first few minutes. Holly Leapai opened the scoring in the third minute, followed closely by Kealia Nansen, who extended the lead shortly thereafter.
New Caledonia responded to the early setbacks by stabilizing their play but found it challenging to penetrate Samoa’s strong defense. Despite multiple attempts and close calls with the goal post, they were unable to convert their chances into goals.
Samoa maintained the pressure throughout the match, nearly increasing their lead with a free kick that hit the crossbar. The game ended with Samoa holding firm to their 2-0 advantage, marking a significant victory and a historic qualification for the World Cup.
Looking ahead, Samoa is set to participate in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final, where they hope to continue their successful streak and contend for the championship title.