Football at the 2023 Pacific Games – Men's tournament

Main article: Football at the 2023 Pacific Games

The men's football tournament at the 2023 Pacific Games was the 16th edition^[1] of the men's football tournament at the Pacific Games, held from 17 November to 2 December, in Honiara, Solomon Islands.^[2][3][4]

2023 Pacific Games
men's football tournament

Tournament details
Host country	Solomon Islands
City	Honiara
Dates	17 November–2 December
Teams	12 (from 2 confederations)
Venue(s)	3 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions	New Caledonia (8th title)
Runners-up	Solomon Islands
Third place	Fiji
Fourth place	Vanuatu
Tournament statistics
Matches played	21
Goals scored	102 (4.86 per match)
Top scorer(s)	John Orobulu (8 goals)
← 2019 2027 →

New Zealand's Under-23s were the defending champions after beating New Caledonia in the final in 2019.^[5]

Teams

Twelve teams entered the tournament. Originally, Kiribati was drawn into Group B with Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu but withdrew on 3 November 2023. It would have been the nation's first appearance in the competition since 2011.^[6]

•  American Samoa^[7]
•  Cook Islands^[8]
•  Fiji^[9]
•  Kiribati
•  New Caledonia^[10]
•  Northern Mariana Islands^[11]
•  Papua New Guinea^[12]
•  Samoa^[13]
•  Solomon Islands (hosts)^[14]
•  Tahiti^[8]
•  Tonga^[15]
•  Tuvalu
•  Vanuatu^[16]

Venues

There are three confirmed football venues for the tournament, all in Honiara:^[17]

Stadium	Capacity
National Stadium	10,000
Lawson Tama Stadium	20,000
SIFF Academy Field	500
Honiara

Source: ^[17]

Squads

Main article: Football at the 2023 Pacific Games – Men's team squads

Group stage

The team list and draw were confirmed on 21 October 2023.^[18][19]

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	New Caledonia	2	2	0	0	15	0	+15	6	Semi-finals
2	Cook Islands	2	1	0	1	2	9	−7	3	5th-8th placement
3	Tonga	2	0	0	2	1	9	−8	0	9th-12th placement

Source: SOL23

New Caledonia	7–0	Tonga
Waya 2', 56', 62' Vakié 5' Zeoula 16' (pen.) Wélépane 24' Katrawa 26'	Report

18 November 2023 (2023-11-18)

16:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

---

Tonga	1–2	Cook Islands
Kendler 71'	Report	Tiputoa 67' Rimene-Albrett 90+8'

21 November 2023 (2023-11-21)

16:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: David Yareboinen (Papua New Guinea)

---

Cook Islands	0–8	New Caledonia
	Report	Zeoula 7', 13' Xowi 64' Waya 75', 78', 81' Katrawa 82', 90+5'

24 November 2023 (2023-11-24)

16:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Vanuatu	2	1	1	0	7	1	+6	4	Semi-finals
2	Papua New Guinea	2	1	1	0	4	1	+3	4	5th-8th placement
3	Tuvalu	2	0	0	2	0	9	−9	0	9th-12th placement

Source: SOL23

Papua New Guinea	3–0 (w/o)	Tuvalu
	Report

17 November 2023

12:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara

---

Tuvalu	0–6	Vanuatu
	Report	T. Kalotang 6', 53' Tenene 11', 70' Alefaio 35' (o.g.) Moses 71'

20 November 2023 (2023-11-20)

12:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara

Referee: Shama Maemae (Solomon Islands)

---

Vanuatu	1–1	Papua New Guinea
Soromon 52'	Report	Kepo 45+7'

23 November 2023 (2023-11-23)

12:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara

Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Fiji	2	1	1	0	10	0	+10	4	Semi-finals
2	Tahiti	2	1	1	0	5	0	+5	4	5th-8th placement
3	Northern Mariana Islands	2	0	0	2	0	15	−15	0	9th-12th placement

Source: SOL23

Fiji	10–0	Northern Mariana Islands
Begg 1' Krishna 6', 8', 35' Nalaubu 18', 43' Dogalau 56' Pablo 61' (o.g.) Dunn 66' Matanisiga 82'	Report

18 November 2023 (2023-11-18)

19:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: Timothy Niu (Solomon Islands)

---

Fiji	0–0	Tahiti
	Report

21 November 2023 (2023-11-21)

19:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)

---

Northern Mariana Islands	0–5	Tahiti
	Report	T. Tehau 30', 38' (pen.) Tinirauarii 43' Degrumelle 69' Kaspard 71'

24 November 2023 (2023-11-24)

19:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: Timothy Niu (Solomon Islands)

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Solomon Islands (H)	2	2	0	0	12	0	+12	6	Semi-finals
2	Samoa	2	1	0	1	10	1	+9	3	5th-8th placement
3	American Samoa	2	0	0	2	0	21	−21	0	9th-12th placement

Source: SOL23
(H) Hosts

Solomon Islands	1–0	Samoa
Orobulu 50'	Report

17 November 2023 (2023-11-17)

15:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara

Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)

---

Samoa	10–0	American Samoa
Kwan 10', 49' Tumua Leo 15', 41', 54', 88', 90+7' Trainor 24' (pen.) Tumua 61' Taualai 80'	Report

20 November 2023 (2023-11-20)

15:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara

Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)

---

American Samoa	0–11	Solomon Islands
	Report	Orobulu 6', 45+3', 72', 80', 90+3' Leslie 16' Feni 25', 41', 66' Molea 28', 34'

23 November 2023 (2023-11-23)

15:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara

Referee: Calvin Berg (New Zealand)

Knockout stage

Brackets

	9th–12th placement				9th place play-off
	27 November – SIFF Academy Field
	Northern Mariana Islands	4
					30 November – SIFF Academy Field
	American Samoa	0
					Northern Mariana Islands	1
	27 November – SIFF Academy Field
					Tuvalu	4
	Tonga	0
	Tuvalu	4
					11th place play-off
					30 November – SIFF Academy Field
					American Samoa	2
					Tonga	6

	5th–8th placement				5th place play-off
	27 November – SIFF Academy Field
	Tahiti	2
					30 November – SIFF Academy Field
	Samoa	1
					Tahiti	2
	27 November – SIFF Academy Field
					Papua New Guinea	0
	Cook Islands	0
	Papua New Guinea (w/o)	3
					7th place play-off
					30 November – SIFF Academy Field
					Samoa (w/o)	3
					Cook Islands	0

	Semi-finals				Final
	28 November – Honiara
	New Caledonia	1
					2 December – Honiara
	Vanuatu	0
					New Caledonia (p)	2 (7)
	28 November – Honiara
					Solomon Islands	2 (6)
	Fiji	0
	Solomon Islands	2
					Bronze Playoff
					1 December – Honiara
					Vanuatu	2
					Fiji	4

9th–12th placement

Northern Mariana Islands	4–0	American Samoa
Yobech 32' R. Guerrero 46', 70' Ngewakl 90+4'	Report

27 November 2023

10:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: Torika Delai (Fiji)

Tonga	0–4	Tuvalu
	Report	Sapele 5' Pelekata 42' Vine 81', 84'

27 November 2023

13:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: Shama Maemae (Solomon Islands)

---

American Samoa	2–6	Tonga
Vaitoelau 37' Silao 55'	Report	Polovili 43', 88' Fifita 47', 81' Tu'ifangaloka 61' Rajani 76' (pen.)

30 November 2023

10:00

11th place play-off

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: David Yaraboinen (Papua New Guinea)

Northern Mariana Islands	1–4	Tuvalu
Toves 50'	Report	Vailine 8', 22' Ualesi 42', 45+3'

30 November 2023

13:00

9th place play-off

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: Torika Delai (Fiji)

5th–8th placement

Tahiti	2–1	Samoa
Tinirauarii 49' Lossec 88'	Report	Tumua 2'

27 November 2023

16:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara

Referee: David Yaraboinen (Papua New Guinea)

Cook Islands	0–3 (w/o)	Papua New Guinea

27 November 2023

19:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara, Solomon Islands

---

Samoa	3–0 (w/o)	Cook Islands

30 November 2023

16:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Tahiti	2–0	Papua New Guinea
Tinirauarii 21' T.Tehau 83'	Report

30 November 2023

19:00

SIFF Academy Field, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)

Semi-finals

New Caledonia	1–0	Vanuatu
Xowi 45+3'	Report

28 November 2023

12:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)

Fiji	0–2	Solomon Islands
	Report	Lea'i 39' (pen.) Lea'alafa 82'

28 November 2023

15:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

Bronze final

Vanuatu	2–4	Fiji
Soromon 28', 45+3'	Report	Dunn 22', 55' Begg 73' Nand 90+2'

1 December 2023

15:00

Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)

Final

New Caledonia	2–2 (a.e.t.)	Solomon Islands
Waya 7' Wélépane 45+4'	Report	Orobulu 32', 72'
Penalties
Ranchain Bako Richard Waya Zeoula Iwa Waia Vakié	7–6	Lea'alafa Supa Kaua Ohasio Lea'i Peter Kofana Orobulu

2 December 2023

10:00

National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

Goalscorers

There have been 102 goals scored in 21 matches, for an average of 4.86 goals per match (as of 2 December 2023).

8 goals

• John Orobulu

7 goals

• Lues Waya

5 goals

• Michael Tumua Leo

3 goals

• Thomas Dunn
• Roy Krishna
• Jean-Jacques Katrawa
• César Zeoula
• Gagame Feni
• Teaonui Tehau
• Roonui Tinirauarii
• Azariah Soromon

2 goals

• Nabil Begg
• Sairusi Nalaubu
• Ruben Guerrero
• Shene Wélépane
• Makalu Xowi
• Alman Kwan
• Dilo Tumua
• Tigi Molea
• Amoni Fifita
• Hemaloto Polovili
• Matti Ualesi
• Paolo Vailine
• Keni Vine
• Tonly Kalotang
• Godine Tenene

1 goal

• Tia Silao
• Billjay Vaitoelau
• Tremaine Rimene-Albrett
• Dwayne Tiputoa
• Etonia Dogalau
• Gabrielle Matanisiga
• Merril Nand
• Vincent Vakié
• Nolan Ngewakl
• Markus Toves
• Jireh Yobech
• Ati Kepo
• Va'a Taualai
• Pharrell Trainor
• Micah Lea'alafa
• Raphael Lea'i
• Bobby Leslie
• Matéo Degrumelle
• Eddy Kaspard
• Teva Lossec
• Elias Kendler
• Mohammed Rajani
• Sione Tu'ifangaloka
• Andrew Pelekata
• Yvan Sapele
• Joe Moses

1 own goal

• Daniell Pablo (against Fiji)
• Maalosi Alefaio (against Vanuatu)

Final rankings

Rank	Team
	New Caledonia
	Solomon Islands
	Fiji
4	Vanuatu
5	Tahiti
6	Papua New Guinea
7	Samoa
8	Cook Islands
9	Tuvalu
10	Northern Mariana Islands
11	Tonga
12	American Samoa

Broadcasting

All matches will be broadcast live on SBS in Australia.^[20]

See also

• Football at the 2023 Pacific Games – Women's tournament
• Football at the 2023 Pacific Games
• Football at the Pacific Games

References

1. "Sports". 2023 Pacific Games Solomon Islands. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
2. "SCHEDULE". 2023 Pacific Games Solomon Islands. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
3. "SOL2023 PACIFIC GAMES MASTER PLAN" (PDF 747 KB). National Hosting Authority – Sol2023. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
4. "Pacific Games Council" (PDF 705 KB). 14 July 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
5. "New Zealand men's footballers produce epic comeback to win Pacific Games gold". Stuff. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
6. "Kiribati Withdraws From Football". 2023 Pacific Games Solomon Islands. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
7. "Am Samoa to send 189 to Pacific Games". Talanei. 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
8. Nash, Matthew (19 August 2023). "Cook Islands looking abroad to inspire a football revolution". RNZ. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
9. Palmer, Dan (21 September 2023). "Fiji announces squad of 592 for Pacific Games in Solomon Islands". Inside the Games. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
10. "En aucun cas la liste est définitive "-INTERVIEW avec le Sélectionneur NC – JOHANN SIDANER-Liste JEUX DU PACIFIQUE" (in French). New Caledonia Football Federation. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
11. Team, FIJI TV (2023-10-20). "Over 100 CNMI athletes for Honiara Games". Fiji One News. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
12. "PMs MSG CUP: PNG Mens National Soccer Team (MNT) will use the upcoming PMs MSG as part of its presentation for 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon in Nov/ Dec later this year". Papua New Guinea Football Association. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
13. Faasau, Gutu. "Team Samoa to comprise 23 sports in Honiara". The Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
14. Mackay, Duncan (23 February 2023). "Friendlies offer Solomon Islands footballers chance to stake Pacific Games claim". Inside the Games. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
15. "FIFA President Gianni Infantino Visits Tonga to Witness Progress and Discuss Football Development". The Tonga Independent. August 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
16. Natoga, Anasilini (5 July 2023). "Senior women's friendly with Solomon Islands cancelled". Vanuatu Post. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
17. "Venues". 2023 Pacific Games Solomon Islands. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
18. "ALTERNAFOOT on X". Twitter. ALTERNAFOOT. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
19. "Schedule". 2023 Pacific Games Solomon Islands. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
20. "How to watch 2023 Pacific Games LIVE on SBS". SBS. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

External links

• Results and stadings at Global Sports Archive