Papua New Guinea have kickstarted their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ qualifying campaign with a statement 5-0 victory over Melanesian neighbours Vanuatu in Group B at Round 2 of the Oceania Qualifiers at Govind Park in Ba.
Beginning their tenth FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualification campaign, the most of any other OFC member association, the PNG Lakatois proved to be too strong for Vanuatu, who are participating in their fourth campaign in comparison.
Papua New Guinea asserted themselves early on, effectively claiming all three points inside the first 45 minutes with three first half goals. It took only five minutes for superstar captain Ramona Padio to make her mark, linking with Marie Kaipu for the opener.
Nenny Elipas added Papua New Guinea’s second in the 15th minute, before Kaipu opened her goal-scoring account for the qualification campaign with the third just before half-time.
Vanuatu offered more resistance in the second half, with Nettie Kalsau and Leimata Simon causing problems for the opposition defence. It wasn’t enough to stop PNG from adding two more goals though, Padio setting up Phylis Pala in the 62nd minute, and Elipas scoring her second late on, to wrap up a comprehensive win.
Papua New Guinea: 5 (Ramona PADIO 5’, Nenny ELIPAS 15’, 90′, Marie KAIPU 43’, Phylis PALA 62’)
Vanuatu: 0
HT: 3-0
Later in the day, Fiji opened their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ qualifying campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over New Caledonia in front of a home crowd at Govind Park in Ba.
Runners-up in each of the two most recent OFC FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualifying campaigns, Fiji entered with high expectations and overpowered a New Caledonian side playing in senior OFC competition for the first time since 2022.
Much like the earlier game in Ba, four first half goals allowed Fiji to boss proceedings and assure themselves of three points before the break. The first two goals came from rebounds off New Caledonian goalkeeper Prescilla Maillot in the penalty area, with Trina Davis scoring the first and Sofi Diyalowai adding the second.
Diyalowai then split the New Caledonian defence for Cema Nasau to score Fiji’s third, before getting the fourth goal and her second, in first half stoppage time.
New Caledonia delivered a much-improved defensive display in the second half, but conceded a fifth goal as the rain began to come down in Ba. Fiji substitute Sonia Alfred threw her head on a corner delivery to round out the scoring in the 74th minute, assuring Nicola Demaine of her first competitive victory as new head coach of the Fiji Kulas.
Group B action resumes in Ba on Monday when New Caledonia face Vanuatu, and Fiji play Papua New Guinea.
Fiji: 5 (Trina DAVIS 11’, Sofi DIYALOWAI 26’, 45+4’, Cema NASAU 36’, Sonia ALFRED 74’)
New Caledonia: 0
HT: 4-0
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek