Tahiti came from behind to open their OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026 campaign with a 4-2 victory over Vanuatu in Group B.
Esdras Jamet and Santiago Covic both scored twice for the Tahitians, as they overcame a first half deficit to record a fifth consecutive win over Vanuatu at the tournament dating back to 2005.
It was Vanuatu who took the lead just before the break in rather calamitous circumstances. Under pressure from Rohan Masauvakalo, Tahiti captain Manatea Ahupu saw his attempted clearance deflect into his own net, handing the qualifying winners the lead.
Vanuatu hadn’t won a group stage match at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship since 2023 though and quickly unravelled after returning for the second half. Two costly errors whilst playing out from the back were punished by Tahiti, who scored twice in four minutes to turn the contest on it’s head.
First Vanuatu goalkeeper Ezekiel Tasso gave the ball straight to Jamet at the top of his own box from a goal kick, allowing an easy tap-in for the Tahitian centre-forward, before a classy finish into the bottom-left corner by Covic gave Tahiti the lead after winning possession in a similar position.
Pushing numbers forward from a corner in search of a response of their own, the Vanuatu defence was again exposed for the third goal in the 61st minute, Jamet scoring his second of the morning after bursting away on the counter.
Vanuatu continued to harbour hope of a result when Franso Shem nodded home a second goal from a pinpoint Mathew Naviti cross in the 77th minute, but Covic put the match to bed with Tahiti’s fourth goal late in regular time, again punishing his opponents for a mistake whilst playing out from the back.
Tahiti: 4 (Esdras JAMET 51’, 61’, Santiago COVIC 55’, 86’)
Vanuatu: 2 (Own Goal 43’, Franso SHEM 77’)
HT: 0-1
Later in the day, New Zealand begun their OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026 title defence with a 5-1 victory over the Solomon Islands in Group B.
Jack Clegg scored twice as the ten-time defending champions overcame a spirited display from their Melanesian opponents at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby.
Previously, New Zealand had only lost one match at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship since 2007, a 0-5 defeat to the Solomon Islands in 2018 – who did well to frustrate their highly favoured opponents for much of the first half, sitting deep and soaking up the pressure.
They were unfortunate to concede the opening goal in the fashion they did in the 38th minute though, the referee adjudging the ball to have crossed the goal-line after a discussion with his assistant, as two defenders battled to clear from a New Zealand corner delivery.
Clegg doubled the defending champions’ lead shortly after the break, racing in-behind and beating Eddie Aefi from a one-on-one position.
The Solomon Islands kept fighting and halved the deficit in the 59th minute when Vaulton Hoova’s delivery sailed over the head of New Zealand keeper Will Martin, but the floodgates eventually opened in the final quarter.
Clegg added a second, whilst captain Ben Trenberth and Reuben Lee Sang also found the back of the net as New Zealand hit the Solomon Islands for five.
It’s the perfect way for New Zealand to begin their campaign. They face Tahiti next, whilst the Solomon Islands will be hoping to bounce back against Vanuatu, when the second matchday in Group B is played on Thursday.
New Zealand: 5 (Own Goal 38’, Jack CLEGG 48’, 77’, Ben TRENBERTH 69’, Reuben LEE SANG 79’)
Solomon Islands: 1 (Vaulton HOOVA 59’)
HT: 1-0
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek