OFC Women’s Champions League 2025
The third edition of the OFC Women’s Champions League was held in the Tahitian capital of Papeete with matches played at two stadiums, Stade Pater and Stade Fautaua in May.
The tournament consisted of seven club sides following the late withdrawal of Penama Tigers from Vanuatu. Group A was thus reduced to three teams, BA Women FC from Fiji, Henderson Eels FC from Solomon Islands and Tupapa Maraerenga FC from Cook Islands. Ba and Tupapa were both newcomers to the competition.
Group B contained defending champions Auckland United FC from New Zealand, the 2024 runners up Hekari Women’s FC from Papua New Guinea, and two debutants, PanSa from American Samoa and AS Pirae from the host nation.
Solomon Islands star forward Ileen Pegi scored the opening goal of the tournament as Group A kicked off with Henderson Eels defeating Tupapa Maraerenga 5-0. BA Women FC made a tremendous start to the tournament defeating Henderson Eels 2-0 and then securing their semi-final place alongside the Solomon Islanders with a 3-1 win over Tupapa.
The experienced Auckland United and Hekari Womens FC were a class above their Group B rivals who were trying to find their feet at international level. Both the New Zealand and Papua New Guina champions produced convincing wins over Pan Sa, although after being thumped by Auckland United, AS Pirae displayed some real resilience against Hekari, falling to a 2-0 defeat. The match of the Group stage was a repeat of the 2024 final with Auckland United FC edging Hekari Womens FC 2-1.
As Group B winners, Auckland United FC would face Henderson Eels FC in one semi-final with Group A winners BA Women FC meeting Hekari Womens FC in the other semi.
Auckland United made a devastating start against Henderson Eels and led 4-0 inside half an hour. Zoe Benson scored a brace and would end the tournament picking up the golden boot with 8 goals. Pegi scored the goal of the tournament in somewhat of a consolation strike for the Eels with Auckland United booking their place in their second straight final 6-1.
The first semi-final was on a knife edge at half-time with Hekari Womens FC and BA Women FC locked at 1-1 at the break. But the Papua New Guinea side had squandered a number of first half chances and took control early in the second half with captain Marie Kaipu scoring twice in quick succession to knock the stuffing out of the Fijian side. Hekari Womens FC would go on to win 6-1 and set up a repeat of the 2024 final against Auckland United FC.
Just as the previous matches between the sides there wasn’t much in it. Although Hekari Womens FC had suffered a major blow with their playmaker Ramona Padio ruled out with an ankle injury she had picked up in the semi-final. Ben Bate’s New Zealanders largely dominated the opening spell and took the lead through Danielle Canham who got the final touch on a long range shot into the box. Hekari pressed hard in the second half with Nenny Elipas having their best chance to equalise after being put through on goal. But Hannah Mitchell who would win the tournament golden gloves for best goalkeeper, denied her the chance to level the scores. The 1-nil win a repeat of the scoreline in Honiara with Auckland United earning qualification for the inaugural FIFA Womens Champions Cup and a match next year against the AFC Champions. Auckland FC’s Saskia Vosper was awarded the golden ball for player of the tournament while AS Pirae gave local fans some joy, winning the fair play award.