Samoa has secured a spot in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after 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 quickly establishing dominance, scoring two early goals. Holly Leapai netted the first goal just three minutes into the game, followed shortly by a second from Kealia Nansen.
Although New Caledonia managed to recover from the initial setback and controlled the pace of the game, they found it difficult to break through Samoa’s strong defense. Despite creating several scoring opportunities and coming close to finding the net, New Caledonia failed to convert any chances into goals.
Samoa maintained pressure throughout the match, nearly extending their lead with a free kick that struck the crossbar. The game concluded with Samoa holding on to their 2-0 advantage, marking a significant victory and earning them a historic place in the upcoming World Cup.
Looking ahead, Samoa is now set to compete in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final, where they will strive to continue their successful streak and aim for the championship title.