2014 OFC U-20 Championship

The 2014 OFC U-20 Championship was the 20th edition of the biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) for players aged 19 and below (despite the name remaining as U-20 Championship). The tournament was held in Fiji from 23 to 31 May 2014.[1]

2014 OFC U-20 Championship
Tournament details
Host countryFiji
CitySuva
Dates23–31 May 2014
Teams6 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Fiji (1st title)
Runners-up Vanuatu
Third place New Caledonia
Fourth place Solomon Islands
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Goals scored55 (3.67 per match)
Top scorer(s)Solomon Islands Atkin Kaua
(5 goals)
Best player(s)Vanuatu Jacky Ruben
Best goalkeeperFiji Misiwani Nairube
Fair play award Solomon Islands
2013
2016

Despite the name remaining as U-20 Championship, the age limit was reduced by a year to 19 years of age. So players who want to participate in the tournament needed to be born on or after 1 January 1995. At an OFC Executive Committee meeting held at its Auckland headquarters in November 2013 the competition format was modified. The competition was brought forward a year and the age limit was lowered to 19 years of age. The changes were made in order to allow the winner of the competition plenty of time for preparation and player development for up-and-coming World Cups at Under 20 level.[2]

Hosts Fiji won the tournament and qualified for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. New Zealand, who were the title holders but did not play, automatically qualified for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup as hosts, so two teams represented the OFC in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Participating teams

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Six teams participated in the tournament.[1]

Squads

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Officials

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Seven referees and eight assistant referees were named for the tournament.

Venues

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Group stage

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The group stage fixtures were announced on 7 May 2014, with the games scheduled as a round-robin tournament.[3]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Fiji 5 4 1 0 13 3 +10 13
  Vanuatu 5 3 2 0 11 4 +7 11
  New Caledonia 5 3 0 2 17 5 +12 9
  Solomon Islands 5 1 1 3 7 7 0 4
  Papua New Guinea 5 1 1 3 6 13 −7 4
  American Samoa 5 0 1 4 1 23 −22 1
Source: [citation needed]
American Samoa  0–4  Fiji
Report Waqa   15'
Dreloa   24'
Tuivuna   30'
Nabenia   45+3'
Vanuatu  1–0  New Caledonia
Koka   66' Report
Solomon Islands  0–2  Papua New Guinea
Report Yagas   10'
Bob   51'

Solomon Islands  0–0  Vanuatu
Report
Referee: Averii Jacques (Tahiti)
Papua New Guinea  1–1  American Samoa
Simongi   58' Report Tua   45+3'
Fiji  2–0  New Caledonia
Nabenia   47'
Tuivuna   65' (pen.)
Report

Fiji  3–0  Papua New Guinea
Sahib   43'
Toma   55'
Waqa   76'
Report
Referee: Bruce George (Vanuatu)
New Caledonia  3–1  Solomon Islands
Oiremon   12'
Athale   81'
Nyikeine   89'
Report Kaua   66'
American Samoa  0–4  Vanuatu
Report Kalo   15'
Saniel   41'
Kalsong   56', 67'

Solomon Islands  5–0  American Samoa
Bakale   22'
Kaua   35', 47', 77'
Rangosulia   90+1'
Report
Referee: Bruce George (Vanuatu)
Vanuatu  2–2  Fiji
Kalo   22'
Iawak   57'
Report Chand   25'
Dreloa   40'
Referee: Averii Jacques (Tahiti)
Papua New Guinea  1–5  New Caledonia
Awele   82' Report Waru   7', 70'
Athale   41'
Nemia   53'
Nyikeine   77'

New Caledonia  9–0  American Samoa
Wathiepel   9'
Jalabert   23'
Athale   35'
Nykeine   38', 50'
Oiremoin   68', 74', 85'
Ouka   77'
Report
Papua New Guinea  2–4  Vanuatu
Donna   15' (o.g.)
Awele   62'
Report Kalsong   42', 63'
Kaltak   89', 90+3'
Fiji  2–1  Solomon Islands
Chand   25'
Naidu   26'
Report Kaua   9'

Awards

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The Golden Ball Award is awarded to the most outstanding player of the tournament. The Golden Glove Award is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament. The Golden Boot Award is awarded to the top scorer of the tournament. The Fair Play Award is awarded to the team with the best disciplinary record at the tournament.[4]

Award Recipient
Golden Ball   Jacky Ruben
Golden Glove   Misiwani Nairube
Golden Boot   Atkin Kaua (5 goals)
Fair Play Award   Solomon Islands

Goalscorers

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5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goals
Own goal

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fiji to host U-20 World Cup Qualifying Tournament". Fiji One TV. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  2. ^ "OFC Executive meeting outcomes announced". Oceania Football Confederation. 2013-11-23. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  3. ^ "Pathway to FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 revealed". 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-08. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Fiji create football history". OFC. June 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
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