Papua New Guinea’s Under-19 Men’s National Team has departed for the Cook Islands ahead of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Under-19 Men’s Championship Qualifying Stage, carrying the nation’s hopes of securing a place at the regional championship in Samoa later this year.
The qualifying tournament will be held from June 6th to 12th, with PNG competing against Tonga and host nation the Cook Islands for the sole qualification spot on offer.
Led by captain Nalau Moses, the 23-man squad features a talented group of young footballers aiming to continue their development on the international stage and take a step closer to achieving World Cup aspirations.
Moses brings valuable experience to the side, having competed in the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) Premier Soccer League and represented PNG at various national youth levels.
He will captain a squad that includes several players from the PNG Under-16 team that impressed at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in the Solomon Islands.
That side narrowly missed out on qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after a 2-0 semi-final loss to New Zealand, an experience that Head Coach Mathew Witu believes has prepared the players well for the challenge ahead.
“The players have worked hard throughout our preparations and are ready to compete,” Witu said.
“We know the task ahead will not be easy, but the team is focused on giving their best in every match and achieving the results needed to qualify.”
“The experience many of these players gained at the U-16 level has been invaluable. They understand what it takes to compete at this level and are motivated to take the next step in their football journey.”
PNG will begin its campaign against Tonga on June 6th before taking on the Cook Islands on June 12th. To advance to the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Samoa this September, the team must finish at the top of the standings.
The stakes are particularly significant this year with the OFC U-19 Championship serving as a pathway to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
For the first time, Oceania has been allocated three qualification spots for the global tournament, providing unprecedented opportunities for emerging football nations across the region.
Meanwhile, speaking at the team’s farewell dinner on Wednesday evening, PNGFA President John Kapi Natto, encouraged the players to embrace the opportunity before them and continue striving towards higher levels of international football.
“This squad is a very special squad. You came through the Under-16 programme and now you are in the Under-19 team,” Natto said.
“Next year we have the Under-23 Olympic qualifiers and many of you could be part of that same squad.”
“We are hosting the Under-23 qualifiers here in the country next year, so the future is good for you. The opportunity is there.”
In addition, Natto stated that the expanded FIFA qualification pathway had made the dream of World Cup participation more attainable than ever before for PNG’s young footballers.
“With three World Cup qualification spots now available to Oceania, the dream of reaching a FIFA World Cup is no longer out of reach.”
“It is an opportunity that this generation of players can strive towards, but it starts with the challenge ahead in the Cook Islands,” he said.
The Papua New Guinea Football Association has wished the team a safe journey and success as they represent the nation in the qualifying tournament.
