Infantino keeps his Pacific bloc as New Zealand challenges Oceania’s FIFA consensus

Four years ago, Oceania presented a united front behind Gianni Infantino.

Ahead of the 2023 FIFA presidential election, all 11 members of the Oceania Football Confederation were publicly committed to the Swiss administrator. OFC president Lambert Maltock announced the region’s unanimous support, praising what FIFA had delivered for football across the Pacific.

That unity no longer exists.

As Infantino faces one of the most serious political crises of his presidency, New Zealand Football has withdrawn its support for his re-election and demanded greater accountability from FIFA.

Yet rather than triggering a wider rebellion inside Oceania, New Zealand’s decision has so far produced the opposite picture.

New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and American Samoa have all subsequently expressed support for Infantino, with several of them explicitly declaring that they want him re-elected as FIFA president.

The emerging picture leaves New Zealand increasingly isolated among the OFC associations that have publicly stated their position.

The dispute began with the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have reorganised part of FIFA’s commercial operations and opened a stake in the governing body’s commercial rights to private investment.

The project generated strong opposition from some of world football’s most powerful organisations and eventually collapsed.

UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF challenged FIFA’s handling of the proposal, while criticism increasingly focused on governance, consultation and the amount of authority concentrated around Infantino.

The controversy has since escalated well beyond the original proposal.

Several national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino, questions over confidence in the FIFA leadership have intensified and the search for a possible challenger ahead of the 2027 presidential election has begun.

New Zealand became Oceania’s most significant dissenting voice.

NZ Football formally withdrew its support for Infantino’s candidature and called for an independent review into how the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal was developed.

The federation said recent decisions within FIFA had contributed to a breakdown in trust and greater division within international football.

For New Zealand, the issue became one of governance, accountability and transparency.

Its stance was particularly significant because OFC had been one of Infantino’s most reliable regions.

In October 2022, Maltock had announced that all 11 Oceania associations supported Infantino’s nomination for another term.

New Zealand was part of that unanimous endorsement.

Less than four years later, it has become the first OFC member to openly break from the FIFA president.

However, the reaction elsewhere in the Pacific has been markedly different.

New Caledonia was among the first associations to make its position clear.

The Fédération Calédonienne de Football publicly and unambiguously reaffirmed its support for Infantino.

FCF president Steeve Laigle acknowledged that the handling of the controversial proposal represented a political mistake, but argued that Infantino’s wider record could not be ignored.

For New Caledonia, the central issue is what the current FIFA administration has delivered to smaller football countries.

The federation pointed to greater access to resources, development opportunities and a more equitable place for smaller associations within world football.

Laigle subsequently made New Caledonia’s electoral position explicit: the federation intends to vote for Infantino in the 2027 FIFA presidential election.

Papua New Guinea followed with an even stronger declaration.

The Papua New Guinea Football Association welcomed Infantino’s decision to withdraw the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative and described the move as demonstrating his commitment to unity, solidarity and mutual respect within FIFA.

PNGFA said it valued his leadership, vision and commitment to football development during the past decade.

It then went beyond a general statement of support.

The federation explicitly declared that it backs Infantino’s re-election at the next FIFA Elective Congress in Morocco.

For PNGFA, continued leadership under Infantino would help strengthen the game globally while continuing to advance the interests of football throughout Oceania.

Solomon Islands also entered the discussion.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation released an official statement declaring its support for Infantino and expressing continued confidence in his leadership.

SIFF similarly focused on development.

The federation highlighted what it described as significant progress during Infantino’s decade in charge of FIFA and the benefits experienced by football both across Oceania and within Solomon Islands.

While the SIFF statement did not make its future vote as explicit as PNG’s declaration, there was little ambiguity regarding its current political position: the Solomon Islands federation remains behind Infantino.

Tahiti then added another influential Pacific voice.

The Fédération Tahitienne de Football reaffirmed its confidence in the FIFA president despite recognising that the Forward Enterprise controversy had created legitimate questions around governance, transparency and consultation.

Tahiti nevertheless argued that the dispute should not erase what has been achieved under Infantino.

The federation highlighted increased opportunities for Oceania, development assistance, greater equality between FIFA members and progress within Tahitian football itself.

FTF also backed the continuation of Infantino’s leadership and his candidature for another term.

American Samoa has now provided one of the clearest endorsements of all.

In a letter published by the Football Federation American Samoa and signed by president Alexander T. Godinet, FFAS praised Infantino’s leadership and the attention given to smaller member associations.

American Samoa said it had benefited greatly from his vision, dedication and efforts to develop football globally.

The federation then offered what it described as its “full and unequivocal support” for Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president.

FFAS said it was confident his continued leadership would strengthen football and advance FIFA’s mission for all member associations.

The statement also produced a visibly critical reaction among some followers on the federation’s Facebook page, with several comments questioning the decision and the motivations behind it.

The federation itself, however, could hardly have expressed its institutional position more clearly.

OFC has been more restrained in its language than several of its members, but the confederation has also stopped well short of following New Zealand.

After the collapse of the Forward Enterprise proposal, OFC supported a review of the process and acknowledged the need to identify changes that may be required.

At the same time, it emphasised the progress made in Oceania during the past decade under FIFA’s current leadership.

That distinction is important.

OFC has not issued the same direct electoral commitment as Papua New Guinea or American Samoa, but its assessment of the Infantino era remains overwhelmingly centred on the development achieved across the region.

And development is the common thread running through almost every Pacific statement supporting the FIFA president.

For many OFC members, FIFA is not a distant organisation primarily associated with the World Cup.

Its programmes directly affect football infrastructure, national academies, domestic competitions, administration and opportunities for national teams.

FIFA Forward investment has had a particularly large impact on countries whose football federations operate with limited domestic commercial revenue.

The expansion of the FIFA World Cup has also transformed Oceania’s position within international football.

OFC now has a guaranteed direct place at the tournament, ending the long-standing situation in which the region’s champion still had to survive an intercontinental play-off simply to reach the World Cup.

FIFA has also backed the development of the OFC Professional League and increased the opportunities available to Pacific nations through international competitions and development structures.

Infantino has repeatedly used these changes as evidence that Oceania has been transformed during his presidency.

The federations supporting him are now making much the same argument.

Their statements do not necessarily deny that mistakes were made surrounding FIFA Forward Enterprise.

Instead, they argue that the controversy must be weighed against a decade in which smaller nations received greater funding, access and representation.

New Zealand has reached a different conclusion.

Although NZ Football has itself benefited from developments during the Infantino era — including co-hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and securing direct World Cup qualification through Oceania’s expanded allocation — it has decided that concerns over FIFA’s governance are serious enough to withdraw its political support.

That creates a striking divide.

The strongest football nation in Oceania is currently the region’s clearest opponent of Infantino, while several of the smaller Pacific associations have become some of his most vocal defenders.

The positions of the remaining OFC members are still important.

Fiji has responded to aspects of the Forward Enterprise controversy but has not, so far, issued a similarly explicit declaration regarding Infantino himself.

No comparable public statement has yet been identified from Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga or Cook Islands.

Vanuatu is particularly notable because VFF president Lambert Maltock also serves as president of OFC and as a FIFA vice-president.

Any separate declaration from Vanuatu would therefore carry additional political significance.

But even without those remaining positions, the regional picture is already very different from 2022.

Then, Oceania spoke with one voice.

Now, New Zealand has withdrawn its support while five Pacific associations — New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and American Samoa — have publicly lined up behind Infantino.

Some have gone further by explicitly committing themselves to his re-election.

The split is developing while Infantino’s position becomes increasingly contested elsewhere.

Opposition has grown among European associations, Denmark has joined those calling for an alternative candidate and FIFA general secretary Mattias Grafström has reportedly been approached over the possibility of challenging Infantino.

The 2027 FIFA election is therefore beginning to look substantially less predictable than it once did.

For Oceania, however, one trend is already apparent.

The unanimous regional support Infantino enjoyed four years ago is gone.

But so far, New Zealand has not inspired a Pacific revolt.

Instead, as the pressure on the FIFA president has increased, several of Oceania’s smaller football nations have chosen to publicly rally around him.

The unanswered question is whether any of the remaining OFC associations will eventually join New Zealand — or whether New Zealand will remain the lone regional federation willing to break with a FIFA president who continues to enjoy deep support across the Pacific.

Auckland City reign again: 14th OFC Champions League crown ends Central Coast’s historic run

Auckland City FC have been crowned champions of Oceania for a record-extending 14th time after defeating Central Coast FC 2-0 in the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League final at Four R Govind Park in Ba, Fiji.

Second-half goals from Ryan De Vries and Matt Ellis proved decisive as the New Zealand giants secured a fifth consecutive continental title, while Central Coast’s historic run ended one victory short of bringing the trophy back to Solomon Islands.

Central Coast showed from the opening minutes that they were prepared to challenge the defending champions. Barrie Limoki produced the first attempt of the final with a shot from distance, while Raphael Lea’i, fresh from his semi-final hat-trick against Galaxy FC, repeatedly troubled Auckland’s defensive line with his acceleration and close control.

Auckland gradually began to create opportunities of their own. Ellis found the net during the opening half but saw his effort ruled out for a marginal offside, while Ryan De Vries was denied at the near post by Central Coast goalkeeper Erick Wanega.

Despite the attacking quality on both sides, clear chances remained limited and the teams went into half-time level at 0-0.

The same balance continued after the restart, with neither side immediately able to take control of the match.

Auckland finally found the breakthrough in the 69th minute.

Michael De Heijer recovered possession before Auckland worked the ball towards Michal Doudera on the right. Doudera’s low effort was parried by Wanega, but De Vries reacted quickest to the rebound and converted from close range to put the defending champions ahead.

Central Coast were then forced to take greater risks as they searched for an equaliser, and Auckland punished them nine minutes later.

Ryan Watson made progress down the right side and delivered across the face of goal, where Ellis arrived to turn the ball into the net and make it 2-0.

The task became even more difficult for Central Coast in the 83rd minute when Prince Tahunipue was shown a straight red card following a confrontation near the halfway line.

Auckland managed the closing stages without further trouble and eventually celebrated another continental crown, extending a period of dominance that has now seen them win the OFC Men’s Champions League in five successive editions.

For Central Coast, however, the defeat does not diminish a remarkable tournament.

The Solomon Islands champions recovered from an opening-round defeat to Auckland City, defeated AS Vénus and AS Tiga Sport to progress from Group A, and then produced one of the matches of the competition by eliminating previously unbeaten Galaxy FC 3-2 after extra time in the semi-final.

Rafa Lea’i’s hat-trick in that victory sent Central Coast into the continental decider and made them only the third Solomon Islands club to reach an OFC Champions League final.

Their appearance also ended a 17-year wait since Koloale FC represented Solomon Islands in the 2009 final, following Kossa FC’s run to the decider one year earlier.

Central Coast therefore leave Fiji without the trophy, but with one of the most significant international campaigns by a Solomon Islands club in recent history.

Auckland City, meanwhile, once again finish at the summit of Oceanian club football. Their 2-0 victory secures a 14th OFC Champions League title and reinforces a remarkable continental record that no other club in the region comes close to matching.

Javin Wae reveals Central Coast’s plan for Auckland City ahead of historic OFC Champions League final

Central Coast captain Javin Wae says the Solomon Islands champions will look to press Auckland City high and prevent the New Zealand giants from controlling the game when the two sides meet in the OFC Champions League final.

Speaking exclusively to Oceania Football Center (OFCe) ahead of the decisive match, Wae gave a simple answer when asked how Central Coast intend to approach Auckland City.

“High press, and not let them play,” he said.

Central Coast reached the final after coming through a dramatic semifinal against Galaxy FC, becoming the first Solomon Islands club since 2009 to reach the decisive match of Oceania’s premier club competition.

For Wae, who has captained the side throughout the campaign, returning Solomon Islands football to this stage is a special moment.

“I’m happy to be back in the final,” he said.

Wae has also left his mark on the tournament individually. The midfielder scored a superb free-kick during Central Coast’s campaign, providing one of his standout moments in the competition.

The goal was no coincidence. Asked by OFCe whether taking free-kicks was something he had been specifically working on, Wae revealed that it is part of his regular routine.

“Yes, every day after training I do it,” he said.

His ability from set pieces could therefore become another important option for Central Coast in the final, particularly in a match where opportunities against Auckland City may be limited.

Wae celebrate his goal against AS Tiga Sport – Source: OFC Media

Beyond his contribution on the pitch, Wae has carried additional responsibility as Central Coast captain. He admitted the role is not easy but said he has tried to lead and inspire those around him.

“To be captain is not easy, but I’m doing my best to inspire my teammates,” Wae said.

Central Coast will now face the biggest challenge of their campaign against Auckland City, Oceania’s most successful club side. The Solomon Islands champions, however, will enter the final with confidence after their performances throughout the tournament and with a clear tactical idea of how they want to compete.

For Wae, disrupting Auckland City’s usual rhythm will be central to that approach. Central Coast intend to push higher up the pitch, apply pressure and deny their opponents the freedom to dictate possession.

The captain also called on Solomon Islands supporters, both at home and those currently in Fiji, to rally behind the team for the final.

“I would just like to say, please keep supporting the team back home. And for those in Fiji, come out in numbers this Saturday to support us,” he said.

Central Coast now have the opportunity to complete a historic campaign and bring the OFC Champions League title back to Solomon Islands football.

From Royals to GHUPO: Moffat Konofilia returns to centre of Solomon Islands football amid fresh controversy

Joel Moffat Konofilia has returned to a prominent position in Solomon Islands football as head coach of GHUPO Wantoks FC, but an incident during the club’s recent S-League match against Green Shield has once again placed one of the country’s most controversial football figures under scrutiny.

Video footage from the match on 15 August shows a heated confrontation involving security personnel and people close to the GHUPO section at Lawson Tama Stadium. Several individuals can be seen arguing as the situation escalates, with others eventually intervening around the confrontation.

A social media account accompanying the footage claimed security had initially approached GHUPO supporters after they had verbally harassed Green Shield players during the match. According to the same account, the supporters failed to stop and security attempted to remove them, before a person referred to as “MK” became involved in the argument.

Oceania Football Center understands that the reference was to GHUPO head coach Moffat Konofilia.

The footage confirms that a confrontation took place but does not show how the dispute originally started and cannot independently establish the claim that GHUPO supporters had been verbally harassing Green Shield players throughout the match. For that reason, the allegation remains the account of a person who witnessed and publicised the incident.

What makes the episode particularly notable is Konofilia’s history within Solomon Islands football.

A former Solomon Islands international, Konofilia has been involved in the local game for decades as a player, coach, academy operator and outspoken critic of the Solomon Islands Football Federation. His return to the S-League in 2026 represents another chapter in a football career that has repeatedly mixed youth development ambitions with disputes, disciplinary cases and controversy.

GHUPO itself is not completely new to the national competition. The club debuted in the S-League in 2025, initially under head coach William Tino. The project, however, took on a significantly different dimension ahead of the 2026 season.

In June, GHUPO Wantoks FC was formally launched as a project backed by Papua New Guinea powerhouse Hekari United. Hekari president Vonnie Puia Nato publicly stated that GHUPO was owned by Hekari, while John Kapi Nato — founder of Hekari and a current Oceania Football Confederation vice-president — was presented as an owner and major sponsor of the Solomon Islands project.

Konofilia was announced as head coach.

At the launch, the club outlined ambitions extending well beyond its S-League senior team. Plans were announced for men’s, women’s and youth sides, as well as academies in Honiara and Rennell and Bellona Province. The project is also expected to create pathways involving Hekari and potentially Solomon Kings.

Konofilia described what he called an “Omega football philosophy” that GHUPO intended to display at Lawson Tama.

For those familiar with his previous work, the emphasis on academies and overseas pathways is not new.

Konofilia was the central figure behind Royals Football Academy, originally connected to West Honiara, a private football project that became one of the most debated development programmes in Solomon Islands during the late 2010s.

Royals attempted something rarely seen in Solomon Islands football: sending large numbers of young footballers overseas, particularly to England, in search of training, education and playing opportunities.

The project also operated in a complicated position outside the traditional football structure.

In 2018, SIFF publicly stated that Royals was not affiliated with the Honiara Football Association and therefore the federation had no obligation to participate in the academy’s overseas arrangements. The statement followed a dispute after Konofilia sought financial assistance from SIFF to send players to England but, according to the federation, declined to reveal the agencies involved because the arrangement was a “secret deal”.

Despite the difficult relationship with SIFF, Royals continued its overseas programme.

Rovu Boyers and Clenty Lamupio were among the young players who received government-backed scholarships connected to their development in England. Each scholarship was valued at SBD$300,000 and involved IELTS studies at Wentworth International College alongside their football opportunities.

Questions were publicly raised at the time over the arrangement, although the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education defended the scholarships and stated they were legitimate.

The Royals project eventually expanded dramatically. Dozens of Solomon Islanders travelled to England and trained through Stars Football Academy, while some received opportunities with lower-level English clubs.

There were genuine football achievements.

Several Royals players had International Transfer Certificates processed when Langney Wanderers showed interest in them, while Ali Mekawir established himself in English non-league football and later became the first Solomon Islander to score in the FA Cup.

Boyers ultimately became the most prominent example of a player to emerge from that pathway. After England, his career took him through Greece, Sweden and Australia before he became a Solomon Islands international and earned a professional contract with South Island United in the OFC Pro League.

His story, however, also illustrates the uncertainty that could accompany such overseas journeys.

Boyers has since described difficult periods after leaving England. In Greece, he said an arrangement required players to help renovate a house in exchange for accommodation and food, while visa problems restricted his football and financial difficulties eventually left him staying in an abandoned property. He later travelled to Sweden, where he said an agent left him after arrival.

There is no evidence establishing that Konofilia personally organised those later moves to Greece and Sweden, and they should not be attributed directly to him. Nevertheless, Boyers’ journey demonstrates both sides of the broader experiment: the possibility of producing a player capable of reaching international and professional football, but also the vulnerability of young Pacific footballers trying to navigate poorly defined pathways thousands of kilometres from home.

Royals itself went through significant turbulence.

In 2020, Oceania Football Center reported on a public breakdown between Konofilia and academy technical director Alick Collin while members of the Royals group were in England. Both men exchanged serious and conflicting allegations about what had happened during their stay, while a large number of Solomon Islands players remained in Britain as the COVID-19 pandemic complicated their return home.

By late 2020, 31 members of the delegation were involved in the repatriation process and another group of 17 Royals players remained stranded in England awaiting an opportunity to return.

Konofilia’s conflicts within football, however, predated the Royals episode.

SIFF records show that in 2016 he was sanctioned for abusive behaviour and threats towards match officials after an S-League match involving Western United and West Honiara. He received a SBD$1,000 fine and a one-match suspension.

A considerably more serious incident followed during the 2017 Solomon Cup.

While coaching Renbel Chiefs against Western Turtles, Konofilia was sent away from the technical area following repeated protests against refereeing decisions. SIFF’s disciplinary findings stated that after the match he approached the referee near the officials’ dressing room, appeared to offer a handshake and instead punched him.

Konofilia acknowledged at the time that he had assaulted the referee, although he argued that circumstances during the match had provoked his reaction.

SIFF eventually imposed a three-year ban from all football-related activities, running from July 2017 until July 2020, as well as another SBD$1,000 fine.

Konofilia appealed the decision, but the SIFF Appeal Committee upheld the punishment in April 2019. His disciplinary record also resulted in his nomination to contest the SIFF presidency that year being declared invalid.

His relationship with the federation remained hostile throughout the suspension. Konofilia repeatedly criticised SIFF publicly and accused the organisation of treating disciplinary cases involving other football figures differently from his own. SIFF rejected those allegations and maintained that his suspension prevented the federation and its affiliated bodies from dealing with football activities in which he was heavily involved, including Royals.

More recent events have taken Konofilia’s controversies beyond football.

While living in the United Kingdom, he was convicted in 2025 of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl on Weymouth Beach in an incident that occurred in December 2023. Konofilia denied the offence but was found guilty and later received an 18-month community order, including unpaid work, rehabilitation requirements and alcohol monitoring.

He returned to Solomon Islands in October 2025 and was subsequently re-arrested in relation to an outstanding case connected to the November 2021 Honiara unrest.

Police said Konofilia had previously been charged with sedition and unlawful assembly but had failed to return to court after travelling to the United Kingdom, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued in 2023.

His trial eventually took place in 2026.

The Honiara Magistrates’ Court found insufficient evidence to convict Konofilia of sedition and acquitted him of that charge. He was, however, convicted of taking part in an unlawful assembly connected to the events of November 2021.

Konofilia has challenged that conviction. The latest publicly available court reporting states that he filed an appeal and was seeking legal representation for the appeal process in July.

Against that background, his appointment at GHUPO represents a significant return to organised football.

This is not simply an academy operating independently of SIFF structures as Royals once did. Konofilia is now coaching in the country’s highest domestic league and leading a project carrying the backing of Hekari United, one of the most influential football institutions in the Pacific.

GHUPO Wantoks has presented an ambitious vision: academies, opportunities for young footballers, connections between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea and potential pathways towards professional football.

The involvement of Hekari gives those ambitions considerably greater institutional and financial weight than Konofilia’s previous projects possessed.

It also means that the conduct surrounding the club will inevitably attract attention.

The confrontation during the Green Shield match does not by itself establish misconduct by Konofilia. The available footage begins after the situation had already developed, while the allegation concerning harassment from GHUPO supporters comes from an eyewitness account rather than an official investigation.

But for a coach whose football history already includes sanctions for threats towards officials and a three-year ban following the assault of a referee, his involvement in another heated stadium confrontation is unlikely to pass unnoticed.

As of the time of writing, OFCe has not seen a public SIFF disciplinary decision concerning the events during the GHUPO-Green Shield match.

Whether the incident develops into an official case remains to be seen.

What is already clear is that Moffat Konofilia is once again firmly inside Solomon Islands football. After Royals, years abroad, disciplinary battles and legal cases, GHUPO has provided him with a new platform — this time inside the S-League and with one of Oceania’s most recognised football organisations standing behind the project.

His return was always going to attract attention.

The events surrounding GHUPO and Green Shield have ensured that it has happened sooner rather than later.

Raphael Lea’i delivers when it matters most: hat-trick sends Central Coast into historic OFC Champions League final

Raphael Lea’i has produced one of the most memorable performances of his career, scoring a hat-trick as Central Coast FC defeated Galaxy FC 3-2 after extra time to reach the final of the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League.

The Solomon Islands star decided an extraordinary semi-final at Four R Stadium in Ba, scoring twice before half-time before returning in the 117th minute to strike the winning goal and complete his hat-trick.

It was a performance worthy of the reputation Lea’i has carried for much of his career as one of the most talented players produced by Solomon Islands football.

Central Coast took the lead after 15 minutes following a chaotic sequence inside the Galaxy penalty area. Hudyn Irodao initially struck the crossbar and Bobby Leslie had an effort blocked before Lea’i controlled the loose ball and fired home.

His second arrived just before half-time. A quick Central Coast counterattack involving Leslie and Barrie Limoki created the opportunity, and Lea’i finished confidently to give the Solomon Islands champions a 2-0 advantage.

Galaxy, however, had arrived at the semi-finals after winning all three of their group matches and possessing the competition’s most prolific striker in Willian dos Santos Medina.

The Brazilian eventually responded. Medina scored twice during the second half to bring Galaxy level at 2-2, taking his extraordinary tournament tally to 11 goals and forcing the contest into extra time.

For more than 25 additional minutes, neither side could find the decisive breakthrough.

Then Lea’i appeared again.

With only three minutes remaining before a possible penalty shootout, Fordney Junior took advantage of a defensive mistake and found Lea’i. The 22-year-old drove his finish high into the net, completing his hat-trick and immediately writing himself into Central Coast history.

The 3-2 victory sends the Honiara club into their first OFC Champions League final and ends a long absence for Solomon Islands football from the continental decider. Koloale were the last club from the country to reach the final, facing Auckland City in 2009.

Seventeen years later, Lea’i and Central Coast will face the same opposition.

The achievement also represents another important chapter in Lea’i’s own story.

Few Solomon Islands players have attracted as much attention from such a young age. Lea’i emerged internationally during the country’s successful qualification for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup and soon established himself as an exceptional goalscorer with Henderson Eels.

His first OFC Champions League campaign came in 2020, when he was still a teenager. Lea’i scored twice in three appearances, including an important late goal against Lautoka that helped Henderson Eels reach the knockout stage before the competition was eventually abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His development eventually took him beyond Oceania.

In 2023, Lea’i joined FK Velež Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, becoming the first Solomon Islands footballer to sign a professional contract with a European club. He later continued his career in Australia with Adelaide City and Wollongong Wolves before returning to the Pacific for the inaugural OFC Pro League season with Solomon Kings.

That campaign did not produce the numbers many expected from him. Lea’i scored only once in 15 appearances for Kings, and his return to Solomon Islands domestic football with Central Coast came at a moment when questions were naturally being asked about what the next stage of his career would look like.

His response has come on the pitch.

Before travelling to Fiji, Lea’i scored twice in only his second S-League appearance for Central Coast. At the Champions League, his influence has extended beyond goals.

Against Auckland City in the opening group match, he created Bobby Leslie’s goal as Central Coast pushed the defending champions before eventually losing 2-1. Against AS Vénus, Lea’i scored and delivered the corners that resulted in Central Coast’s other two goals during a commanding 3-0 victory.

Now, when Central Coast required their leading attacking player in the most important match in the club’s history, he delivered three times.

The semi-final hat-trick takes Lea’i to four goals in this year’s Champions League and gives him six goals across his two appearances in the competition, having previously scored twice for Henderson Eels in 2020.

More importantly, it has given him another opportunity against the standard-bearers of Oceanian club football.

Auckland City defeated Rewa 3-1 in the other semi-final and will enter Saturday’s match attempting to win a fifth consecutive continental title and a record-extending 14th overall.

Central Coast already showed during the group stage that they can trouble the New Zealand champions. They led Auckland for much of the second half before conceding twice late in their 2-1 defeat.

The rematch will carry considerably greater consequences.

No Solomon Islands club has ever won Oceania’s premier club competition. Central Coast are now one victory away from changing that history.

And after a career that has already taken him from Honiara to a FIFA youth World Cup, Europe, Australia and professional football in the Pacific, Raphael Lea’i has placed himself at the centre of that opportunity.

On a night when Central Coast needed a star, their biggest one delivered.

Auckland City and Central Coast book OFC Champions League final after contrasting semi-final victories

Auckland City FC and Central Coast FC will contest the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League final after coming through very different semi-final battles at Four R Govind Park in Ba on Wednesday.

The defending champions controlled their meeting with hosts Rewa FC to claim a 3-1 victory, while Central Coast produced one of the most dramatic results of the tournament, defeating previously unbeaten Galaxy FC 3-2 after extra time behind a hat-trick from Solomon Islands star Raphael Lea’i.

Auckland City entered the first semi-final against a Rewa side missing two important players, Merrill Nand and Joseph Athale, through suspension. The New Zealand champions took control of possession early and created the better opportunities as Rewa struggled to settle.

The breakthrough came in the 34th minute. Michal Doudera collected Ryan De Vries’ flick and released Gerard Garriga behind the Rewa defence, with the midfielder keeping his composure to finish past goalkeeper James Do’oro.

Auckland increased their advantage just before half-time. Following a corner, Nathan Rostron reacted quickest to the loose ball inside the area and finished from close range to make it 2-0.

Any hopes of a Rewa comeback suffered another major blow nine minutes after the restart. Matt Ellis accelerated away from the defence after receiving De Vries’ pass and produced a composed finish beyond Do’oro for Auckland’s third.

The Fijian champions continued pushing despite the deficit and eventually received a reward in the 89th minute. Player-coach Tevita Waranaivalu delivered into the area and Josaia Sela scored with a spectacular acrobatic volley.

It was only a consolation, however, as Auckland City closed out the 3-1 victory and secured a place in a fifth consecutive OFC Champions League final.

If the first semi-final was relatively controlled, the second provided a completely different contest.

Central Coast FC stunned Galaxy FC 3-2 after extra time, ending the Vanuatu champions’ perfect campaign and earning their place in the continental final.

Central Coast took the lead after 15 minutes. Hudyn Irodao’s attempt came back off the crossbar and, after Bobby Leslie’s follow-up was blocked, Lea’i controlled the loose ball and fired home.

The Solomon Islands side continued causing Galaxy problems and doubled their advantage just before the break. Leslie and Barrie Limoki combined on a quick counterattack before finding Lea’i, who confidently finished his second of the match in the 44th minute.

Galaxy entered the second half facing their biggest challenge of the tournament. After scoring 14 goals during the group stage, the Vanuatu champions had been kept scoreless for more than an hour as Central Coast restricted the service towards Willian Dos Santos Medina.

Eventually, the competition’s leading scorer found a way through.

Andrew Malakai released Medina in the 69th minute and the Brazilian turned towards goal before curling an excellent finish beyond Erick Wanega to reduce the deficit.

Eight minutes later, Galaxy were level. Medina broke the Central Coast defensive line and calmly finished to make it 2-2, taking his personal tournament tally to 11 goals and forcing the semi-final into extra time.

Both teams had opportunities during the additional 30 minutes, but the decisive moment came with only three minutes remaining.

A defensive mistake allowed substitute Fordney Junior to win possession and find Lea’i, who powered his finish high into the net in the 117th minute.

The goal completed Lea’i’s hat-trick, ended Galaxy’s unbeaten campaign and sent Central Coast into the OFC Champions League final with a memorable 3-2 victory.

For Galaxy, the defeat brings an abrupt end to a campaign in which Medina had emerged as the competition’s most prolific player. His two semi-final goals increased his total to 11, following three consecutive hat-tricks during the group stage.

For Central Coast, the victory represents a major achievement for Solomon Islands football and sets up another meeting with Auckland City. The two sides already faced each other in the group stage, when Central Coast led before Auckland scored twice late in the match to claim a 2-1 victory.

Auckland City and Central Coast will now return to Four R Govind Park on Saturday, August 22, with the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League title on the line.

The defending champions will be chasing another continental crown, while Central Coast will attempt to complete their remarkable campaign by overturning their group-stage defeat and bringing the trophy back to Solomon Islands.

Willian Medina on historic OFC Champions League run and his journey to Galaxy FC

Willian Medina has become one of the outstanding names of the 2026 OFC Champions League, with the Brazilian striker producing an extraordinary nine goals in three matches to help Galaxy FC reach the semi-finals in Fiji.

Three matches have brought three hat-tricks for the 33-year-old, an unprecedented sequence in the competition and a remarkable beginning to Medina’s first football experience outside Brazil.

Speaking exclusively to Oceania Football Center, Medina reflected on the achievement after scoring another three goals in Galaxy’s 7-1 victory over Tupapa Maraerenga in their final group-stage match.

“I am happy with this milestone. I have to thank my teammates, who helped me achieve it, and God, because without Him it would have been impossible for this historic achievement to happen,” Medina told OFCe.

His latest hat-trick followed trebles against Rewa FC and Lae City, taking him to nine goals as Galaxy completed the group stage with three victories from three matches.

However, Medina has repeatedly shifted attention away from his individual numbers and towards the players around him.

“I always try to thank and praise the group because, without them, it would not be possible to score goals. Football is a collective game and they are the ones helping me to score,” he said.

“I will always value the collective first and the individual afterwards.”

The Brazilian’s journey to Vanuatu began through another important member of Galaxy’s squad: captain Roberson dos Santos Ribeiro.

Roberson, who had already spent previous periods with Galaxy and is one of the club’s most experienced foreign players, contacted Medina about the possibility of moving to Port Vila.

“It happened through my friend Roberson. I had many offers at the time, but when he contacted me I decided to accept the challenge of living a different experience,” Medina explained.

“Roberson had already had some spells with Galaxy, and it was through him that I came to Vanuatu.”

For Medina, it was a particularly significant decision. After a long career across Brazilian football, including spells with clubs such as União São João, Rio Claro, Goiás, Inter de Limeira, Juventus-SP, Marcílio Dias and several others, Vanuatu became his first experience playing outside his home country.

His career in Brazil had already included individual success. Medina finished as the leading scorer of the 2016 Copa Paulista while representing Rio Claro and later shared the top-scorer honour in the 2023 Campeonato Catarinense Série B with Nação, helping the club win the competition.

His move to Galaxy therefore brought an experienced player to Vanuatu, but also presented Medina with an entirely new football and cultural environment.

“It has been a good experience. Getting to know a different culture and different players has been very interesting,” he said.

Having now spent several months in the country and experienced both Vanuatu football and OFC competition, Medina believes there is considerable potential in the region, although he also sees areas where development is still required.

“It is football that is constantly evolving. I think they need more support for football to develop — structurally and through investment in the knowledge of the people who are at the forefront,” Medina said.

He remains cautious about making definitive judgements on Oceania as a whole, having only recently begun experiencing football across the region.

“I am getting to know Oceanian football better now, so I cannot make a complete assessment yet. But it needs to remain in constant evolution, beginning with youth development and continuing all the way through to professional football. That is how I see it.”

Galaxy’s performances in Fiji have nevertheless demonstrated what one of Vanuatu’s strongest clubs can achieve at regional level.

The Port Vila side opened their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Fiji champions Rewa, with Medina scoring all three of his first goals in the competition. He followed that performance with another hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Lae City before striking three more times against Tupapa.

Those results sent Galaxy into the knockout stage with a perfect record and inevitably raised expectations of a possible first OFC Champions League title for the club.

Medina, however, is refusing to look too far ahead.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground and maintain the playing philosophy that has helped us achieve these victories so far, and go as far as God allows us,” he told OFCe.

“Of course, now that we have qualified for the semi-finals, the hope of achieving something bigger in the competition increases. We will continue working with humility to reach our objective.”

Medina’s impact represents one of the major stories of the tournament so far. The Brazilian arrived in Vanuatu looking for what he described as a different experience after spending his career in his homeland.

Only months later, he stands at the centre of Galaxy’s bid for continental success — with nine OFC Champions League goals, three consecutive hat-tricks and an unprecedented individual record already attached to his name.

For Medina, however, those numbers remain secondary to what Galaxy can still accomplish together.

The individual records have already been written. The collective objective is still ahead.

Auckland City complete dramatic comeback as Central Coast secure semi-final place

Auckland City FC and Central Coast FC confirmed their places in the semi-finals of the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League after an eventful final round of Group A matches at Four R Stadium in Ba.

The day began with Auckland City defeating AS Vénus 4-3 in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament so far. The New Zealand champions only needed a draw to secure top spot in the group, but the Tahitian side pushed them to the limit before a stoppage-time winner completed Auckland’s comeback.

AS Vénus made an excellent start and opened the scoring after only six minutes. Captain Roonui Tehau released Moeava Kaiha behind the Auckland defence, and the forward kept his composure to finish past goalkeeper Matt Foord.

The Tahitians doubled their advantage in the 26th minute. Germain Haewegene made progress down the wing before finding Mathis Lacan inside the area, with the midfielder placing his effort into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

Auckland City managed to reduce the deficit just before half-time. Michal Doudera cut inside and produced a powerful left-footed strike from outside the penalty area in the fourth minute of stoppage time, giving the defending champions a way back into the contest.

Christian Gray completed the first comeback in the 54th minute, rising highest from a Tom Golding corner to head Auckland level.

AS Vénus were far from finished. Haewegene broke through Auckland’s defensive line in the 77th minute and calmly finished past Foord to restore the Tahitian side’s lead at 3-2.

Once again, Auckland responded.

Ryan Watson converted from a cross in the 84th minute to make it 3-3 before Matt Ellis delivered the decisive moment in the first minute of stoppage time. The forward got beyond the Vénus defence and fired past replacement goalkeeper Herehau Reichart to complete a remarkable 4-3 comeback.

The victory ensured Auckland City finished Group A with a perfect nine points and extended their long unbeaten run in the OFC Men’s Champions League.

The second match of the day was effectively a direct playoff between Central Coast FC and AS Tiga Sport for the remaining semi-final place.

Central Coast entered the match knowing a draw would be enough, while Tiga required victory. The Solomon Islands champions nevertheless started aggressively and took the lead after 15 minutes.

Captain Javin Wae stepped up for a free kick and curled a low effort into the bottom corner to give Central Coast a crucial advantage.

Rafa Lea’i and Bobby Leslie remained dangerous throughout the match, while Tiga struggled to turn their possession and attacking moments into clear opportunities against a disciplined Central Coast defence.

The New Caledonian side made several changes after half-time in an attempt to change the contest, but their need to push players forward also created additional space for Central Coast.

Lea’i nearly made it 2-0 after combining with Leslie, only for goalkeeper Thomas Schmidt to produce an excellent save.

The decisive second goal eventually arrived in the 72nd minute. Lea’i delivered a corner towards the back post and Marlon Tahioa rose above the defence to head the ball into the bottom corner.

Central Coast protected their advantage for the remainder of the match to secure a 2-0 victory and their first OFC Champions League semi-final appearance since 2022.

The final standings leave Auckland City top of Group A with nine points, followed by Central Coast on six. AS Tiga Sport finish with three points, while AS Vénus end their campaign without a point despite pushing Auckland City all the way in their final match.

The semi-finals are now confirmed for Wednesday at Four R Stadium in Ba. Auckland City will face Fiji representatives Rewa FC, while Central Coast will meet Group B winners Galaxy FC.

The second semi-final creates one of the tournament’s most intriguing match-ups, with Central Coast’s Solomon Islands contingent coming up against an unbeaten Galaxy side led by Willian Dos Santos Medina, who scored nine goals during the group stage.

Galaxy finish perfect group stage as Rewa complete comeback to reach OFC Champions League semi-finals

Galaxy FC completed a perfect Group B campaign at the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League with a dominant 7-1 victory over Tupapa Maraerenga, while hosts Rewa FC came from behind to defeat Lae City FC 2-1 and secure the second semi-final place.

Galaxy entered the final round already assured of progression, but there was no drop in intensity from the Vanuatu champions. After Tupapa frustrated them during the opening stages, Galaxy eventually broke through in the 25th minute when an own goal gave them the lead.

Joe Moses doubled the advantage shortly before half-time, driving a low effort past goalkeeper Tahiri Elikana in the 41st minute to send Galaxy into the break 2-0 ahead.

The match was effectively decided within the opening minutes of the second half. Willian Dos Santos Medina headed home from Selwyn Vatu’s cross in the 47th minute before Roberson Dos Santos Ribeiro added another just two minutes later.

Medina struck again in the 55th minute, racing onto a long pass from Armando Ravo and lifting his finish over Elikana.

The Brazilian then completed another remarkable hat-trick in the 70th minute. After seeing his initial effort saved, Medina reacted quickest to the rebound to score his ninth goal of the tournament.

It was his third hat-trick in as many matches, following trebles against Rewa and Lae City earlier in the group stage.

Tupapa continued to compete and eventually found a deserved consolation through Tremaine Rimene-Albrett in the 88th minute. The Cook Islands forward curled an excellent free kick into the corner to score his third goal of the tournament.

Galaxy still had time to add a seventh, with Michel Soksok finishing from Joe Moses’ pass in stoppage time to complete the 7-1 victory.

The result saw Galaxy finish Group B with nine points from nine, scoring 14 goals across their three matches and confirming their position as group winners.

The second match carried significantly greater consequences, with Rewa and Lae City meeting in a direct battle for the remaining semi-final place.

Lae City entered the contest knowing a draw would be enough due to their superior goal difference, while Rewa needed a victory.

Despite Rewa starting on the front foot, it was Lae City who took the lead after 15 minutes. Solomon Kamake drove forward on the counterattack and the loose ball eventually fell to Raphael Rudolph, who fired a low effort through the defence and into the net.

Rewa responded strongly and found the equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Captain Kavaia Rawaqa received the ball from Delon Shankar, shifted onto his left foot and produced an excellent long-range strike that went in off the post.

With qualification still hanging in the balance, Rewa completed the turnaround seven minutes after the restart.

A move involving Tevita Waranaivalu and Joseph Athale created danger inside the Lae City area before the ball eventually fell to Merrill Nand, whose low shot found its way through a crowded penalty area and past Ronald Warisan to make it 2-1.

Lae City pushed forward in search of the equaliser that would have sent them through and came agonisingly close deep into stoppage time. Substitute Smith Yonny cut inside from the left and struck a powerful effort that crashed against the underside of the crossbar and bounced away.

Rewa survived the late pressure to claim the victory and secure their place in the last four.

Galaxy finish Group B on nine points, followed by Rewa on six. Lae City end their campaign with three points, while Tupapa Maraerenga leave the competition without a point despite scoring in all three of their matches.

Galaxy will now face the runner-up from Group A in Wednesday’s semi-final, while Rewa will meet the Group A winners at Four R Stadium in Ba.

Auckland City move closer to semi-finals as Central Coast bounce back in Group A

Auckland City FC and Central Coast FC were the winners on the latest match day of the 2026 OFC Men’s Champions League, with the New Zealand champions edging AS Tiga Sport 1-0 before the Solomon Islands side produced a convincing 3-0 victory over AS Vénus in Lautoka.

The earlier match was a tight and often cagey contest, with clear chances limited for long periods. Auckland City controlled more of the ball, but AS Tiga Sport remained competitive and made the defending champions work for every opening.

Matt Ellis came close early in the second half when his effort struck the inside of the post, while Tiga also threatened through Shene Welepane.

The match changed when Florian Gope was shown a second yellow card, leaving the New Caledonian champions with ten men as Auckland increased the pressure.

The decisive moment finally arrived in the 85th minute. Nathan Lobo’s corner was flicked on by Nathan Rostron and captain Mario Ilich was waiting at the back post to head home from close range and secure a 1-0 victory.

The result continued Auckland City’s perfect start to the tournament, following their late 2-1 comeback victory over Central Coast in the opening round.

Later in the day, Central Coast responded emphatically to that defeat by overpowering AS Vénus 3-0.

The Solomon Islands champions started strongly and opened the scoring after only eight minutes. Raphael Lea’i delivered a corner into the area, captain Javin Wae headed the ball down and Barrie Limoki reacted quickest to finish.

Lea’i then went from provider to scorer in the 19th minute. Prince Tahunipue played the Solomon Islands international through on goal and Lea’i calmly beat goalkeeper Tetahio Teriinohopuaiterai to double Central Coast’s advantage.

Only five minutes later, another Lea’i corner caused problems for the Tahitian defence. Wae again won the aerial battle and Bobby Leslie converted from close range to make it 3-0.

Central Coast were unable to add further goals in the second half, but remained comfortably in control and restricted AS Vénus to few meaningful opportunities.

The victory gave Central Coast their first three points of the competition and, importantly, strengthened their goal difference ahead of the final round.

Auckland City now lead Group A with six points from two matches, while Central Coast and AS Tiga Sport have three points each. AS Vénus remain without a point.

That sets up a decisive final group-stage encounter between Central Coast and AS Tiga Sport, with the winner in a strong position to join Auckland City in the semi-finals. Auckland will complete their group campaign against AS Vénus.