PNG Women’s Football Team Ready for OFC Nations Cup Semifinal

Papua New Guinea are geared up for a challenging encounter with Fiji when the two teams meet tomorrow (July 16) at 1pm in the semifinals of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji. 

PNG and Fiji have a shared rivalry history over the years and tomorrow’s clash is set to be an exciting one – a rematch of the 2022 final where PNG edged Fiji 2-1 to claim their first  Nations Cup title. 

PNG are going in as defending champions with a strong group stage performance, topping Group A following a 2-1 win over Samoa, a 1-1 draw with Tahiti and they dominated the Cook Islands 8-0 to secure a semifinal spot. 

Head coach Eric Komeng said there was no pressure on the players as they are focused on the task ahead – that is to defend their title. 

“Our preparations for the game went well. There are no injury concerns in the squad, so we are looking forward to the game. Our last game against the Cook Islands was a step up, so I’m confident the team will do well tomorrow,” said Komeng. 

Fiji are hosts and runners-up in the 2022 edition and they are going into this match very confident, especially after beating PNG 3-1 in the two-match friendly in Port Moresby, with striker Cema Nasau starring. 

Coach Komeng when asked of their approach against Fiji coming off a loss and draw with Fiji during the friendlies said: “We’ve learned a lot from the friendlies. That loss (to Fiji) has made us work hard and we know this is our opportunity to avenge that loss and get the win  we need.” 

The coach said he would be relying on skipper Ramona Padio and star striker Marie Kaipu to lead PNG tomorrow against a star-studded Fijian outfit, including the likes of US-based Trina Davis and New Zealand-based Cema Nasau.

PC: OFC Media