Tahiti have come 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 take on defending champions New Zealand next, whilst Vanuatu will be hoping to bounce back against the Solomon Islands, when the second matchday in Group B is played on Thursday.
Tahiti: 4 (Esdras JAMET 51’, 61’, Santiago COVIC 55’, 86’)
Vanuatu: 2 (Own Goal 43’, Franso SHEM 77’)
HT: 0-1
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek