OFC U-20 Championship 2008

The 17th edition of the OFC U-20 Championship took place in 2008 and doubled as qualification for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup™ in Egypt.

Tahiti line up before the FIFA U20 World Cup Group B match against Spain at the Al Salam Stadium on September 25, 2009 in Cairo (Photo by Shaun Botterill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The tournament was held in Papeete, Tahiti, and was contested between four nations in a round-robin format. Tahiti emerged victorious on home soil, claiming their second OFC U-20 Championship title, and first since the inaugural edition in 1974, with two wins and a draw, including a 2-1 victory over defending champions New Zealand.

Stephane Faatiarau of Tahiti holds off Francisco Flores of Venezuela during the Group B, FIFA U20 World Cup match (Photo by Julian Finney – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Continental champions, Tahiti became the first nation other than Australia or New Zealand to qualify for a FIFA U-20 World Cup™. They lost all of their three games at the 2009 event in Egypt, but were better for the experience.