Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea concluded their qualifying campaign for the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2025 on match day three in Nuku’alofa with a 0-0 draw.

Papua New Guinea had already confirmed their entry to the tournament, virtue of their two earlier wins and with little at stake, the match perhaps understandably lacked the pace and bite seen from both sides up to this point.

It was a ninety minutes low of chances, though Papua New Guinea did show plenty of signs of the threat that led them to score a combined 12 goals across their first two matches.

Boas Tommy – who has been in fine goal scoring form this week – had the best chance to break the deadlock. Usually so clinical in front of goal however, the forward headed wide when unmarked six yards from goal.

Vanuatu may well look back at their time in Nuku’alofa with no shortage of frustration. They performed well here against a strong Papua New Guinea side and had they been able to convert one of their two previous draws in the tournament into three points, it could have been a very different story.

Preparations can now begin for Papua New Guinea, as they look ahead to the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, to be held in the Solomon Islands this August.

Matthew Witu’s side will join Group A, alongside Cook Islands, Fiji and Tahiti.

Vanuatu: 0
Papua New Guinea: 0

HT: 0-0

Tonga saved their best performance for last with an excellent 5-1 win over American Samoa to cap off their qualifying campaign in style.

Having conceded twice late on to deny them victory against Vanuatu, Tonga started brightly, looking to finish with a flourish in front of their home fans.

Less than three minutes were on the clock when they got the perfect start, Benton Setefano opening the scoring as Tonga came out of the blocks fast.

Sioeli Veatupu almost doubled the lead midway through the half, breaking free from the American Samoan defensive line, with his rasping effort tipped over the bar well by goalkeeper Taalo Lauofo.

American Samoa pressure paid off just after the half hour mark. Pati Faleagafulu showing great touch and pace before firing past Gordon Li to level the scores.

Tonga would regain the lead just past the hour mark in a second-half that provided an uptick in energy and intensity. Substitute Fonua Moala began an attack inside his own half and ended it sweeping home from close range after an initial smart save from Lauofo.

Less than ten minutes later and the home side would add a third. Siaki Lonitenisi’s corner was cleared back to the number 10, whose follow-up cross was whipped into a dangerous area, with Sitaleki Kautai on hand to finish from close range.

Any hopes of an American Samoa comeback were dealt a blow with a quarter of an hour remaining, captain Tau Lealuga picking up his second yellow card and receiving his marching orders.

Lonitenisi, who supplied Tonga’s third, got the goal his play deserved not long after – firing into the far corner with plenty of time to pick his spot. Kautai then added a fifth and his second in stoppage time to complete a solid day’s work for the hosts.

Tonga: 5 (Benton SETEFANO 3′, Fonua MOALA 63′, Sitaleki KAUTAI 70′ 93′, Siaki Lonitenisi 76′)
American Samoa: 1 (Pati FALEAGAFULU 33′)

Photo Credit: OFC Media via TFA