New Caledonia have booked their place in the semi-finals of OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2026 with a 1-0 victory over Samoa at the National Stadium in Honiara.
Heidra Adjouhgniope scored the game’s only goal, her second of the tournament, to send New Caledonia through to the last four for the third year in a row, and with a match in Group B still to play.
Adjouhgniope’s goal came from a defensive error by the Samoan backline, stealing possession inside the penalty box, and picking out the top-right corner of the net from point-blank range in the 35th minute.
New Caledonia had other opportunities to add to their advantage over the course of the match, including a long-range strike from Wylona Haewegene that struck the crossbar midway through the second half, and a wayward effort from Emma Jiako when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
The result is Samoa’s first group stage defeat at the championship since 2017, failing to replicate the 5-0 victory over New Caledonia they enjoyed at the same stage of the competition last year.
Samoa: 0
New Caledonia: 1 (Heidra ADJOUHGNIOPE 35’)
HT: 0-1
Earlier in the day, Papua New Guinea secured their first win at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in over a decade, defeating Tonga 4-1 to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
The victory at the National Stadium in Honiara was their first at the tournament since a 2-1 success over New Caledonia at the semi-final stage in January 2016, eliminating Tonga from semi-final contention in the process.
Player of the match Chriszanne Sifas scored two of the four goals for Papua New Guinea, of which three were scored in a dominant first half.
Joylin Lisah capitalised on a failed attempt at a defensive clearance to open the scoring inside seven minutes, before Sifas put the Junior Bilums out of sight with a quick-fire double in the space of twelve first half minutes, showcasing her pace on both occasions to break in-behind the Tongan defence.
Things got worse for Tonga when Uinita Moala was shown a straight red card for pulling on the shirt of Sifas whilst through on-goal just after the hour mark. They did at least find the back of the net though, Vea Tenifa pouncing on a rebound off opposing goalkeper Roselyn Joses to score in the 85th minute.
Glenda Dany added Papua New Guinea’s fourth in the fifth minute of second half stoppage-time, stepping up and bending a free kick into the top left corner, that Tonga had given away inside their own box with a back pass to the goalkeeper.
Papua New Guinea’s long-awaited victory now sets up a crunch clash with Samoa for the remaining place in the knockout stages from Group B on the final matchday in Honiara on Sunday. That contest will be played after New Caledonia face Tonga, the former needing just a point to confirm top spot in the group ahead of the semi-finals.
Papua New Guinea: 4 (Joylin LISAH 7’, Chriszanne SIFAS 23’, 35’, Glenda DANNY 90+5’)
Tonga: 1 (Vea TENIFA 85’)
HT: 3-0
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek