Samoa have begun their quest to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ with a 2-1 win over Polynesian rivals Tonga at the National Stadium in Honiara.  

Finalists in each of the last two editions of the tournament, two goals in two first half minutes from Taimane Devoux proved enough for Samoa to open their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2026 campaign with three points in Group B.  

Devoux scored the first in the ninth minute, picking out the bottom-left corner of the net with a pinpoint strike from the top of the box, before adding a spectacular second goal two minutes later. Her right-footed effort looped over the head of Tongan goalkeeper Juanita Kiu from a long way out.  

Devoux’s early contender for goal of the tournament was matched, if not beaten, by Tonga’s Angel Mailangi in the 42nd minute though, the latter picking out the top-right corner of the net with a long-range stunner of her own off the left flank.  

Despite the two draw-dropping goals, neither side could add to their tally in a goalless second half. Tonga had opportunities to snatch a late equaliser, but Samoa nervously held on for victory.  

Samoa: 2 (Taimane DEVOUX 9’, 11’)
Tonga: 1 (Angel MAILANGI 42’)

HT: 2-1 

Earlier in the day, Kinë Hmaen scored a hat-trick as New Caledonia opened Group B with a 5-2 victory over Papua New Guinea.  

Both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner at last year’s U-16 Women’s Championship, Hmaen announced her return to the tournament with three of New Caledonia’s five goals, including two in the first half.  

The striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 17th minute and added a second with a first-time effort into the top-right corner twelve minutes later, helped by the underside of the crossbar.  

There was a special moment for Papua New Guinea just after the half-hour mark though. Chriszanne Sifas beat opposing goalkeeper Bernadette Nyikeine to a long ball over the top of the New Caledonian defence, scoring Papua New Guinea’s first goal at the championship since a 2-1 win over New Caledonia in the semi-finals of the 2016 tournament, over 3,880 days ago. 

Making their return to the tournament for the first time in a decade, Papua New Guinea gave a promising account of themselves but were continually caught out by the pace of Hmaen and her attacking partner Heidra Adjouhgniope. The latter got on the scoresheet to score New Caledonia’s third just before the break.  

The 2025 semi-finalists then added two more in the second half, Hmaen completing her hat-trick in the 56th minute, before Emma Jiako rounded out the win with a fifth three minutes from the end of normal time.  

Glenda Danny scored a late consolation for Papua New Guinea, but the return of the former two-time finalists after 10 years away ended in defeat.  

Papua New Guinea will look to bounce back against Tonga, and New Caledonia will face Samoa, when the second matchday in Group B is played at the National Stadium on Thursday evening.

New Caledonia: 5 (Kinë HMAEN (P) 17’, 29’, 56’, Heidra ADJOUHGNIOPE 41’, Emma JIAKO 87’)
Papua New Guinea: 2 (Chriszanne SIFAS 32’, Glenda DANNY 82’)

HT: 3-1
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek