Papua New Guinea return to the OFC Women’s Nations Cup next month as defending champions, aiming to assert their dominance once again and chase a second consecutive title on Fijian soil.
The 2022 tournament marked a historic milestone for the team, as they captured their first-ever OFC Women’s Nations Cup crown, edging hosts Fiji 2–1 in a hard-fought final. Now, with expectations higher than ever, head coach Ericsson Komeng is focused on maintaining that winning edge.
“We have a tough pool,” Komeng acknowledged. “We won’t take any team lightly. They are good in their own right, and we need to be confident in ourselves and remain competitive.”
Papua New Guinea have been drawn into Group A, alongside Samoa, Tahiti, and Cook Islands—all teams that have shown steady growth in recent years. Their tournament kicks off against Samoa on 4 July, before facing Tahiti and Cook Islands in what promises to be a competitive group.
Komeng is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the girls, but knowing them, we’ll cope,” he said. “Defending it [the title] is another task, after winning in 2022. But we have a good squad, and we’re looking forward to the tournament—especially with the inclusion of some senior players.”
To prepare for the title defense, Papua New Guinea played two international friendlies against Fiji earlier this year. They showed flashes of form in a 2–2 draw, before falling 3–1 in the second match—valuable tests against one of the region’s top sides.
“Preparations have been good after the two friendlies,” Komeng said. “They put us in the right mindset for camp. We know we have to be sharp and competitive, and Fiji showed us that there’s no room for complacency.”
2022 Champions: A look back
Papua New Guinea’s journey to the title in 2022 was far from straightforward. After topping their pool with a 3–1 win over Vanuatu and a 2–1 victory against Tahiti, they survived a quarterfinal scare—a dramatic 3–3 draw with Tonga, which they won on penalties.
The side regrouped strongly, dispatching Samoa 3–0 in the semifinals, before their crowning moment: a 2–1 win over Fiji in front of a passionate home crowd in Suva.
Watch the full interview with Ericson Komeng:
Padio a key weapon
One of the biggest boosts to PNG’s campaign is the return of star striker Ramona Padio, the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer. Padio missed the OFC Women’s Champions League final with club side Hekari United due to injury, but is now back to full fitness and ready to lead her country once more.
“I think Ramona Padio is going to take the lead,” Komeng said. “Hopefully, she’ll do a good job in leading the team all the way.”
Padio’s presence brings not just goals, but leadership and experience to a squad that blends seasoned internationals with exciting new talent.
Komeng acknowledges the added weight of expectation of his team and is confident his players will do their best.
PNG Fixtures:
V Samoa 4th July 2025 | 12PM local time
V Tahiti 7th July 2025 | 3PM local time
V Cook Islands | 3PM local time
