A big final is on the cards for New Caledonia as Lössi and Hienghène prepare to face-off in the Coupe de Caledonie on Saturday 21 October at Stade Numa Daly.
Both sides have two titles apiece in this prestigious competition – Lossi in 2007 and 2012, Hienghene in 2013 and 2015 – and neither are keen to concede the opportunity to progress to the Coupe de France once more.
The path to the final wasn’t easy for either side.
Hienghene just avoided elimination in the quarter-finals where they were forced to a penalty-shootout and just squeezed past Tiga. In the quarter-finals they upped their game to brush aside AGJP before meeting Wetr in the semi-finals. Goals to Bertrand and Anthony Kai, Brice Dahite and Pothin Poma were enough for the northerners to prevail 4-1, and take Felix Tagawa’s side to their fourth final in five years.
Lossi meanwhile had to play 2017 OFC Champions League semi-finalists AS Magenta in the quarter-finals managing to eliminate Alain Moizan’s side with an impressive 4-1 victory. Lossi were then faced with a two tough matches, beating Patho 1-0 a month ago then Ne Drehu 3-2 last weekend.
The winner of Saturday’s final will progress to the 7th round of the Coupe de France, which will be played in France on the weekend of the 11-12 November 2017.