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 commenced with Samoa establishing an early advantage through two rapid goals. Holly Leapai found the net in the third minute, followed by Kealia Nansen, who quickly doubled the score.
Although New Caledonia worked to regain their footing after the quick setback, they struggled to penetrate Samoa’s strong defense. Despite several near misses, including close encounters with the goalpost, New Caledonia was unable to convert their chances into goals.
Samoa maintained offensive pressure throughout the match, coming close to scoring again with a free kick that struck the crossbar. Ultimately, the game ended with Samoa preserving their 2-0 lead, granting them a significant victory and a historic qualification for the upcoming World Cup.
Looking ahead, Samoa is now set to compete in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final, where they aim to sustain their successful trajectory and potentially secure the championship title.