The 74 selected players from American Samoa, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Tonga will compete from 21-25 January for a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany this July.
Originally scheduled for October last year, the OFC qualifying event had to be postponed due to the earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga last September killing more than 100 people and leaving thousands homeless.
The tragedy directly affected the American Samoa U-20 women’s team with the players’ travel documents being swept away and the training field at Football Federation American Samoa’s (FFAS) headquarters badly damaged by the waves.
Fortunately, they were offered alternative training facilities at the Kananafou Theological Centre and have since returned to the FFAS fields for their final preparations ahead of the OFC championship.
All four competing nations have made changes to their original squads named back in September with American Samoa and the Cook Islands making two changes each, while Tonga and New Zealand have both made four.
Among the additions is OFC Women’s Player of the Year 2008 winner Rosie White who will be back in action for New Zealand after recovering from a foot injury she suffered in September. Meanwhile Tonga will be without experienced midfielder Sala Veamatahua who is out through injury.
The round-robin competition will be played on 21, 23 and 25 January with all six matches taking place on North Harbour Stadium’s Domain 3 (artificial turf).
For full squad lists and profiles click here
For the match schedule click here