Samoa has secured their 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.
Samoa jumped to an early advantage with two quick goals. Holly Leapai opened the scoring in the third minute, followed by Kealia Nansen who doubled the lead shortly thereafter.
New Caledonia, initially taken aback, managed to stabilize their gameplay but found it challenging to penetrate Samoa’s strong defense. Despite their efforts and several near misses, including hitting the goal post, they were unable to convert their chances into goals.
Samoa maintained the pressure throughout the match, coming close to scoring again with a free kick that struck the crossbar.
The game ended with Samoa holding onto their 2-0 lead, achieving a significant victory and earning a historic place in the forthcoming World Cup. With their eyes now on the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final, Samoa aims to build on their successful performance and potentially claim the title.