New Caledonia Secure Semi-Final Spot, Whilst Papua New Guinea End Decade Long Wait

10 September 2026

New Caledonia have booked their
place in the semi-finals of OFC U-16 Women’s Championship
2026 with a 1-0 victory over Samoa at the National Stadium
in Honiara.

Heidra
Adjouhgniope scored the game’s only goal, her second of
the tournament, to send New Caledonia through to the last
four for the third year in a row, and with a match in Group
B still to play.

Adjouhgniope’s goal came from a
defensive error by the Samoan backline, stealing possession
inside the penalty box, and picking out the top-right corner
of the net from point-blank range in the 35th
minute.

New Caledonia had other opportunities to add
to their advantage over the course of the match, including a
long-range strike from Wylona Haewegene that struck the
crossbar midway through the second half, and a wayward
effort from Emma Jiako when one-on-one with the
goalkeeper.

The result is Samoa’s first group stage
defeat at the championship since 2017, failing to replicate
the 5-0 victory over New Caledonia they enjoyed at the same
stage of the competition last year.

Samoa: 0

New
Caledonia: 1 (Heidra ADJOUHGNIOPE 35’)

HT:
0-1

Earlier in
the day, Papua New Guinea secured their first win at the OFC
U-16 Women’s Championship in over a decade, defeating
Tonga 4-1 to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage
alive.

The victory at the National Stadium in Honiara
was their first at the tournament since a 2-1 success over
New Caledonia at the semi-final stage in January 2016,
eliminating Tonga from semi-final contention in the
process.

Player of the match Chriszanne Sifas scored
two of the four goals for Papua New Guinea, of which three
were scored in a dominant first half.

Joylin Lisah
capitalised on a failed attempt at a defensive clearance to
open the scoring inside seven minutes, before Sifas put the
Junior Bilums out of sight with a quick-fire double in the
space of twelve first half minutes, showcasing her pace on
both occasions to break in-behind the Tongan
defence.

Things got worse for Tonga when Uinita Moala
was shown a straight red card for pulling on the shirt of
Sifas whilst through on-goal just after the hour mark. They
did at least find the back of the net though, Vea Tenifa
pouncing on a rebound off opposing goalkeper Roselyn Joses
to score in the 85th minute.

Glenda Dany added Papua
New Guinea’s fourth in the fifth minute of second half
stoppage-time, stepping up and bending a free kick into the
top left corner, that Tonga had given away inside their own
box with a back pass to the goalkeeper.

Papua New
Guinea’s long-awaited victory now sets up a crunch clash
with Samoa for the remaining place in the knockout stages
from Group B on the final matchday in Honiara on Sunday.
That contest will be played after New Caledonia face Tonga,
the former needing just a point to confirm top spot in the
group ahead of the semi-finals.

Papua New Guinea: 4
(Joylin LISAH 7’, Chriszanne SIFAS 23’, 35’, Glenda
DANNY 90+5’) Tonga: 1 (Vea TENIFA 85’)

HT:
3-0

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