Vanuatu have opened their OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026 – Qualifying campaign with an impressive 6-1 win over tournament hosts Tonga, at the Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku’alofa.
Appearing at the qualifying stage for just the second time, Vanuatu started hot and were dominant throughout, joining the Cook Islands as convincing winners on the opening match day in Tonga.
It took just six minutes for them to open the scoring – Rohan Masauvakalo winning a penalty after being brought down by Tonga goalkeeper Sefo Mikaele, before duly converting from the spot into the bottom-right corner.
An own goal from defender Isileli Leao doubled Vanuatu’s lead in the 18th minute, but Tonga briefly offered some resistance in the 25th minute when Sitaleki Kautai ran onto a long ball into the box and finished to halve the deficit.
It proved nothing but a consolation though, as Masauvakalo added his second and Vanuatu’s third in the 37th minute.
Tonga are hosting the qualifying tournament for the third consecutive edition in 2026, but despite the home support, found their physicality outmatched as Vanuatu added three more to their tally in the second half.
Striker Franso Shem got in on the action at the start of the second half, scoring one and setting up an own goal in the space of three minutes.
Nelson Tawia then rounded out the scoring in the 68th minute, adding Vanuatu’s sixth as they coasted towards an opening day victory.
Tonga: 1 (Sitaleki KAUTAI 25’)
Vanuatu: 6 (Rohan MASAUVAKALO 6’, 37’, Own Goal 18’, 47’, Franso SHEM 50’, Nelson TAWIA 68’)
HT: 1-3
Earlier in the day, the Cook Islands started OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026 – Qualifying with a similarly convincing 4-0 victory over American Samoa at the Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Nuku’alofa.
Returning to the qualifying stage for the first time since 2018, the Cook Islands asserted themselves early with three first half goals.
Captain Maui Denny controlled the tempo throughout the contest and set up Jayden Angene for the first goal of the tournament with a long ball over the top of the American Samoa defence, allowing the latter to beat Zackry Vaolli in goal.
Leo Nand added the second goal seven minutes later in the 31st minute, before Denny got on the scoreboard himself in first half stoppage-time.
American Samoa’s only two previous wins at U-16 level in OFC competition had come against the Cook Islands, but at no point were they able to gain a foothold in the contest, despite only conceding once in the second half.
Cook Islands vice-captain Aiga Samania opened his account for the tournament, after racing in-behind the American Samoa defence in the 64th minute for the fourth goal, whilst Nand and Angene both hit the same right post shortly after.
American Samoa’s afternoon ended on a sour note, Kiri Faaoga picking up a straight red card in second half stoppage-time after conceding a free kick on the edge of his own box as the last defender.
It’s a confidence boosting start to the Cook Islands campaign, whilst defeat puts American Samoa on the back foot in their quest to advance from the qualifying tournament for the first time.
OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026 – Qualifying resumes on Saturday when Vanuatu face American Samoa and hosts Tonga look to bounce back against the Cook Islands.
Cook Islands: 4 (Jayden ANGENE 24’, Leo NAND 31’, Maui DENNY 45+2’, Aiga SAMANIA 64’)
American Samoa: 0
HT: 3-0
Photo credit: OFC Media