Fiji women's national under-20 football team

The Fiji women's national under-20 football team is the second highest women's youth team of women's football in Fiji and is controlled by the Fiji Football Association.

Fiji women's U20
Nickname(s)Bula Girls
AssociationFiji Football Association
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachFiji Saroj Kumar
Most caps8 players with 5 caps
Top scorerLuisa Tamanitoakula (7)
Home stadiumANZ National Stadium
FIFA codeFIJ
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current123 Decrease 7
Highest69 (2003)
Lowest133 (2014)
First international
 American Samoa 0 – 0  Fiji
(Nuku'alofa, Tonga; April 23, 2002)
Biggest win
 Tonga 0 – 4  Fiji
(Auckland, New Zealand; July 11, 2017)
Biggest defeat
 New Zealand 8 – 0  Fiji
(Nuku'alofa, Tonga; April 27, 2002) and  Fiji 1 – 9  New Zealand
(Auckland, New Zealand; July 14, 2017)
OFC U-20 Women's Championship
Appearances5 (first in 2002)
Best resultSecond Place (2017, 2023)

History edit

Fiji participated five times at the OFC U-19 Women's Championship so far. In 2002, 2006 and 2019 they were eliminated in the group stages. At their third participation, in 2017, they became second.

In 2002 Fiji drew their first ever game at this level, a 0–0 against American Samoa. They fought for their first win but it wasn't meant to be after two losses: a 2–1 against Samoa and an 8–0 against New Zealand.

In 2006 Fiji were again searching for their first win ever. They had to wait for their final group game, but they got it in the end. After two defeats against again Samoa (3-0) and a heavy 6–1 against Papua New Guinea they won by 3 goals to nil against New Caledonia. Savaia Ratu was the top scorer of the tournament with two goals.

After reaching the goal of winning their first game there was more to celebrate nine years later, in 2017. Fiji became second after three wins, a draw and only one loss against football giants New Zealand. Fiji managed to get the victory's against Tonga (4-0), Papua New Guinea (3-2) and again New Caledonia (2-1). Fiji managed to score a lot of goals with Luisa Tamanitoakula scoring seven goals and Cema Nasau who scored four goals. Although Fiji scored a total of 12 goals, they still had a negative goal scoring tally with conceding 14 goals. Most of those goals were against New Zealand, after that ended in 9–1 loss.

In 2023, they finished second again after losing 0–7 to New Zealand. Eventually, after the announcement of the expansion of the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup to 24 teams, Fiji took the new second spot as OFC representative, which will mark their first time in a World Cup.

Competitive Record edit

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup edit

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA
  2002 Did not qualify
  2004
  2006
  2008
  2010
  2012
  2014
  2016
  2018
  2022
  2024 Qualified
  2026 To be determined
Total 1/12
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

OFC Championship Record edit

OFC U-20 Women's Championship
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA GD
  2002 Group stage 3 0 1 2 1 10 -9
  2004 Did not Participate
  2006 Group stage 3 1 0 2 4 9 -5
  2010 Did not Participate
  2012
  2014
  2015
  2017 Second Place 5 3 1 1 12 14 -2
  2019[1] Group stage 3 2 0 1 4 2 +2
  2023 Second Place 5 3 0 2 6 11 -5
Total 5/10 19 9 2 8 27 46 -19

Current technical staff edit

Position
Director   Susan Wise
Head Coach   Saroj Kumar
Assistant Coach   Sunil Kumar
Assistant Coach   Alisi Uluibatiki
Goalkeeper Coach   Lice Waqaliti
Physio   Titilia Tuwai
Team Manager   Merewai Turaganikeli

Current squad edit

The following players were called up for the 2019 OFC U-19 Women's Championship from 30 August–12 September in Avarua, the Cook Islands.

Caps and goals updated as of 6 September 2019, after the game against Vanuatu.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Maria Elder Parr (2000-02-22) 22 February 2000 (age 24) 3 0   Ba
20 1GK Seru Vasuitoga (2002-10-21) 21 October 2002 (age 21) 0 0   Nasinu

2 2DF Lusiana Lagilevu (2001-03-22) 22 March 2001 (age 23) 3 0   Ba
4 2DF Amelia Cevariki (2001-08-12) 12 August 2001 (age 22) 0 0   Navua
5 2DF Laniana Qereqeretabua (2002-05-22) 22 May 2002 (age 21) 3 1   Ba
15 2DF Losana Bainivalu (2001-12-19) 19 December 2001 (age 22) 0 0   Tailevu Naitasiri
17 2DF Titilia Waqabaca (2001-05-18) 18 May 2001 (age 22) 1 0   Ba
18 2DF Fulori Sukulu (2002-07-02) 2 July 2002 (age 21) 3 0   Ba
19 2DF Vitalina Naikore (2000-08-25) 25 August 2000 (age 23) 3 0   Labasa

3 3MF Ledua Senisea (2000-04-14) 14 April 2000 (age 23) 6 0   Nadi
6 3MF Sainiana Niubalavu (2001-03-21) 21 March 2001 (age 23) 1 0   Ba
7 3MF Koleta Likuculacula (captain) (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 23) 8 1   Ba
8 3MF Adi Bakaniceva (2004-03-09) 9 March 2004 (age 20) 3 0   Tailevu Naitasiri
11 3MF Emily Rokociri (2001-11-12) 12 November 2001 (age 22) 2 0   Tailevu Naitasiri
12 3MF Louisa Simmons (2000-03-03) 3 March 2000 (age 24) 4 0   Ba
13 3MF Kelera Radinicalia (2001-07-31) 31 July 2001 (age 22) 0 0   Navua
16 3MF Dilaisana Drodrolagi (2001-02-17) 17 February 2001 (age 23) 3 0   Papatoetoe

9 4FW Asenaca Diranuve (2000-05-25) 25 May 2000 (age 23) 7 3   Savusavu
10 4FW Asilika Gasau (2001-02-15) 15 February 2001 (age 23) 3 0   Suva
14 4FW Anasimeci Volitikoro (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 21) 2 0   Labasa

2017 squad edit

The following players were called up for the 2017 OFC U-19 Women's Championship

Caps and goals correct after match against New Caledonia on July 24, 2017.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Ateca Tuwai[2] (1998-06-09) 9 June 1998 (age 25) 5 0   Ba
20 1GK Maria Parr (2000-02-22) 22 February 2000 (age 24) 0 0  

2 2DF Cecelia Nainima (1999-05-20) 20 May 1999 (age 24) 5 0   Ba
3 2DF Mereoni Tora (1998-10-26) 26 October 1998 (age 25) 3 0   Ba
4 2DF Sekola Waqanidrola (1998-03-18) 18 March 1998 (age 26) 5 0   Rewa
5 2DF Veniana Ranadi (1998-07-16) 16 July 1998 (age 25) 5 0   Ba
17 2DF Miliana Bureitau (1999-05-19) 19 May 1999 (age 24) 3 0   Navua
19 2DF Laca Tikosaya (2000-04-13) 13 April 2000 (age 23) 1 0   Ba

6 3MF Ledua Senisea (2000-04-14) 14 April 2000 (age 23) 4 0   Nadi
7 3MF Koleta Likuculacula (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 23) 5 0   Ba
8 3MF Tinaima Vuniyayawa (1998-07-31) 31 July 1998 (age 25) 5 0   Rewa
11 3MF Cema Nasau[3] (1999-11-15) 15 November 1999 (age 24) 5 3   Ba
12 3MF Silina Qarawaqa (1999-01-10) 10 January 1999 (age 25) 1 0   Ba
13 3MF Louisa Simmons (2000-03-03) 3 March 2000 (age 24) 1 0   Ba
15 3MF Maca Ralagi (1999-06-05) 5 June 1999 (age 24) 1 0   Rewa
16 3MF Aliza Hussein (2000-07-23) 23 July 2000 (age 23) 4 0   Ba

9 4FW Asenaca Diranuve (2000-05-25) 25 May 2000 (age 23) 4 1   Savusavu
10 4FW Luisa Tamanitoakula[4][5] (1998-07-28) 28 July 1998 (age 25) 5 7   Ba
14 4FW Miriama Bakaniceva (2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 24) 3 0   Tailevu Naitasiri
18 4FW Cynthia Dutt (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 23) 1 0   Labasa

References edit

  1. ^ "Draw for U-16 & U-19 Women's Championships complete". oceaniafootball. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Tuwa steps up to earn Golden Glove". oceaniafootball.com. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Nasau back in action". oceaniafootball.com. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Tamanitoakula shines in leadership role". oceaniafootball.com. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Tamanitoakula rewarded for leading from the front". oceaniafootball.com. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.

External links edit