PNG confirms MSG Cup participation despite K469,000 in unpaid allowances after government assurance

Papua New Guinea will take part in the 2026 MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in Fiji after the PNG Football Association received assurances from the Office of the Prime Minister that outstanding payments owed from previous editions of the tournament will be settled.

The confirmation represents a significant change from the position taken by PNGFA earlier in August, when president John Kapi Natto said the association would not assemble its national teams while allowances, reimbursements and other financial commitments from previous MSG tournaments remained unresolved.

PNGFA has now been instructed to assemble both the Kapuls and the Bilums and begin preparations for the fifth edition of the regional tournament, scheduled to be played in Fiji from September 17 to October 3.

General secretary Armjad Tekwie confirmed that discussions with the Office of the Prime Minister had produced the assurances required for the federation to move forward.

“We have been advised to assemble both teams and commence preparations,” Tekwie said.

However, the dispute is not yet financially resolved.

According to NBC PNG, around K469,000 in outstanding payments remained unpaid as of August 20. PNGFA has been assured that the money will be released before the national teams leave for Fiji, with their departure scheduled for September 14.

“We were assured that payments will be made before the teams leave for Fiji,” Tekwie said.

The outstanding commitments concern players who represented Papua New Guinea in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup.

The 2024 case has been unresolved for more than a year. The Kapuls won the tournament in Honiara, Solomon Islands, but players subsequently complained that allowances promised for their participation had not been paid.

In May 2025, the Post-Courier reported that the PNG Sports Foundation had provided and paid player allowances during the first two editions of the competition but had still not fulfilled the equivalent commitment from the 2024 tournament despite previous assurances and budget provisions.

A separate K100,000 incentive provided by Prime Minister James Marape was distributed to players and officials following the triumph. That payment, however, was distinct from the outstanding allowances. Later in 2025, it was reported that a commitment of K4,000 per player connected to the MSG campaign was still outstanding.

The issue then extended into the 2025 competition, hosted by Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.

That edition saw the Bilums make history by winning the inaugural women’s MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, while the Kapuls reached the men’s final before losing to Vanuatu on penalties. Despite the sporting success, financial commitments arising from the tournament were again left unresolved.

PNGFA has also claimed reimbursements remain outstanding to the association and other stakeholders who contributed money or support to the staging of the 2025 tournament.

It was this accumulation of obligations that prompted Kapi Natto to take the unusual step of putting Papua New Guinea’s 2026 participation on hold.

“Our players and officials have represented Papua New Guinea with pride, discipline and commitment,” Natto said when announcing the federation’s position.

The PNGFA president argued that the association could not continue asking players to represent the country while financial commitments made to them during previous tournaments remained unsettled.

The latest episode is therefore not simply a dispute between players and PNGFA. The MSG Prime Minister’s Cup is government-supported, and much of the current disagreement centres on obligations involving the PNG Sports Foundation and other state structures rather than money directly controlled by the football association.

Nevertheless, delayed payments are not an unfamiliar subject in Papua New Guinea football.

In 2019, K200,000 in National Soccer League prize money remained unpaid to the competition’s top four clubs after the season had finished. Officials blamed unpaid affiliation fees from participating clubs for the delay.

Financial complaints resurfaced in 2023, when match officials publicly claimed that referees across PNGFA-sanctioned competitions were owed more than K20,000, while further outstanding payments reportedly remained from the previous season.

In January 2024, PNGFA again acknowledged that prize money owed to leading clubs from its men’s and women’s national competitions had not yet been paid. The federation said financial difficulties, including a lack of government and commercial support, had contributed to the delay.

An even more serious precedent involved former Kapuls coach Flemming Serritslev. The Danish coach, who led PNG to the historic 2016 OFC Nations Cup final, pursued PNGFA for unpaid salary, contractual payments and a Nations Cup performance bonus. Documents later presented in proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport showed that PNGFA had acknowledged a substantial outstanding debt under a 2017 settlement.

There have also been attempts to change that record. PNGFA described the 2025 Premier Soccer League season as a significant administrative improvement after prize money was deposited directly into the winners’ accounts on the day of the final.

The MSG situation, however, demonstrates that player welfare remains vulnerable when financial responsibilities are divided between football authorities, government institutions and tournament organisers.

For Papua New Guinea, the immediate sporting question has at least been answered.

The Kapuls are scheduled to open their campaign against Vanuatu on September 17 before facing New Caledonia, Fiji and Solomon Islands. The Bilums will also travel to Fiji to defend the women’s title they won in Port Moresby.

But the more important question remains unresolved until the money reaches the players.

Papua New Guinea is going to the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup. The commitments that almost kept the country out of it still have to be honoured.

Auckland FC’s A-League champions take Oceania to FIFA stage but fall narrowly to Al-Ahli

Auckland FC’s first appearance on the FIFA stage ended in defeat, but the New Zealand professional side produced a competitive performance against the champions of Asia, falling only 1-0 to Al-Ahli in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Jeddah.

Saleh Abu Al-Shamat scored the only goal of the night in the 63rd minute at King Abdullah Sports City, while Auckland finished the match with ten men following a late red card to Sam Cosgrove.

The result brought an immediate end to Auckland FC’s first FIFA campaign, but the context behind the team that represented Oceania in Saudi Arabia is particularly significant.

Auckland qualified for the Intercontinental Cup by winning the inaugural OFC Pro League earlier this year. However, the side that faced Al-Ahli was substantially different from the one that had spent the first half of 2026 competing across the Pacific.

Instead, Auckland arrived in Jeddah with essentially the strength of their senior A-League operation.

The distinction matters.

During the OFC Pro League season, Auckland FC operated a separate squad under Luke Casserly while the club’s senior team simultaneously competed in Australia’s A-League. The arrangement proved remarkably successful: Auckland’s A-League side won the championship before its Pro League squad defeated South Melbourne 2-1 at Eden Park the following day to complete an extraordinary double for the club.

The Pro League title provided Auckland with the ticket to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. When the time came to use it, however, the club was able to turn primarily to the squad that had competed at the higher weekly level of the A-League.

Of the 22 players selected to travel to Saudi Arabia, only seven had been members of Auckland’s OFC Pro League-winning group. Just three of those players eventually appeared against Al-Ahli.

Daniel Normann provided the most direct connection between the two campaigns.

One of the outstanding performers of the inaugural OFC Pro League, the Norwegian midfielder made 14 appearances, won Auckland FC’s Players’ Player of the Season award and was awarded the OFC Pro League Golden Ball. His performances earned him promotion into the club’s A-League squad alongside defender Ronan Wynne.

Normann was the only regular member of Auckland’s Pro League championship side to start against Al-Ahli.

Wynne, who made 12 appearances during the Pro League campaign and was named Auckland’s MVP for that competition, joined the action in the 53rd minute. Van Fitzharris was introduced in the 76th minute.

They were the only three players to take the field in Jeddah who had also played a direct role in Auckland’s OFC Pro League campaign.

The rest of the team reflected the strength available to the club through its A-League operation, with names such as Michael Woud, Hiroki Sakai, Nando Pijnaker, Francis de Vries, Felipe Gallegos, Logan Rogerson and Sam Cosgrove involved from the start.

That made Auckland’s FIFA debut a particularly interesting test.

The Black Knights were no longer facing Pacific opposition with the largely separate group assembled for the OFC Pro League. They were taking the core of a team capable of winning the A-League into a match against the reigning AFC Champions League Elite winners.

And the difference between the two continental environments could hardly have been more striking.

Al-Ahli lined up with a squad packed with players accustomed to elite European and international football, including former Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, Brazilian international Galeno, Portuguese attacker Francisco Trincão, Brazilian defender Roger Ibañez and England striker Ivan Toney.

Auckland were also entering the match in difficult circumstances. It was their first competitive fixture since winning the A-League Championship in May, with the New Zealanders still effectively in pre-season under new head coach Pedro Moreira.

In front of an estimated crowd of 45,000 and in demanding heat and humidity, Auckland nevertheless refused to simply retreat and survive.

Al-Ahli controlled more of the ball and produced the greater volume of attacks, but Auckland had opportunities of their own during an encouraging opening half.

Michael Woud was required to make an important save from Galeno after 17 minutes, but Auckland responded through Logan Rogerson.

The New Zealand international caused problems for the Saudi defence and forced Mendy into action, most notably with a looping header that required an acrobatic save from the Senegalese goalkeeper.

Woud was again decisive before half-time, denying Eduard Spertsyan to ensure Auckland reached the interval at 0-0.

For a side playing its first competitive match in three months, away from home against the champions of Asia, Auckland had done considerably more than merely remain alive in the contest.

Al-Ahli continued to push after the restart and finally found their breakthrough shortly after turning to the bench.

Abu Al-Shamat entered the match in the 62nd minute and made an almost immediate impact. Spertsyan broke forward down the left and created the opportunity for the substitute, who finished past Woud in the 63rd minute.

The goal ultimately separated the sides.

Auckland remained in the match and Al-Ahli were unable to turn their territorial superiority into a comfortable victory. Cosgrove’s straight red card with three minutes of normal time remaining made the prospect of a late equaliser considerably more difficult, and the Asian champions eventually closed out the 1-0 win.

Moreira was proud of his side after the match and highlighted the circumstances surrounding Auckland’s first competitive appearance of the new season.

“We did an amazing job. We cannot forget that we are in pre-season,” he said.

“This is the first time these players played a full 90 minutes. With this weather, with this humidity, with this crowd… amazing, I am very proud of this team.”

Auckland’s elimination continues Oceania’s difficult record in the opening stages of the new Intercontinental Cup format, but the margin was considerably narrower than in the region’s previous two appearances.

Auckland City, then qualifying as OFC Champions League winners, were beaten 6-2 by Asian champions Al Ain in the inaugural 2024 edition. The Navy Blues returned in 2025 and suffered a 3-0 defeat against African champions Pyramids FC in Cairo.

This time it was Auckland FC representing the region, following the OFC’s decision to award Oceania’s Intercontinental Cup place through its new professional competition.

A 1-0 defeat against the Asian champions therefore provides an encouraging result for Oceanian football, but it also requires some context.

It would be premature to interpret the performance in Jeddah simply as proof that the OFC Pro League has already closed the gap between Oceania and the stronger continental competitions.

The team that won the Pro League and the team that faced Al-Ahli were largely different.

Auckland effectively won Oceania’s new professional championship with a second squad while its strongest players were focused on the A-League. Once qualification for FIFA competition had been secured, the club was able to bring those two structures together and send predominantly its senior A-League group to Saudi Arabia.

That advantage cannot be ignored when comparing Auckland with the other clubs competing in the OFC Pro League.

At the same time, the pathway created by the competition was visible.

Normann is perhaps its clearest example. He entered the year as part of Auckland’s Pro League squad, emerged as the competition’s best player, earned promotion to the A-League group and, months later, started against the champions of Asia on the FIFA stage. Wynne followed a similar route from the Pro League into Auckland’s senior squad.

In that sense, the Intercontinental Cup highlighted two different strengths of the Auckland FC project: the considerable depth created by having access to both an A-League-level first team and a competitive Pro League squad, and the possibility of using the Oceanian competition to develop players capable of making the step into the senior professional environment.

For the rest of the region, however, Auckland’s performance also provides food for thought.

Most OFC Pro League clubs do not possess another first team competing every week in a competition of the A-League’s standard. Auckland FC do. Their route to Jeddah may have come through the Pro League, but the team that represented Oceania once they arrived there was predominantly the A-League champion rather than the side seen throughout the Pacific competition.

That makes the 1-0 result both encouraging and difficult to use as a direct measurement of the OFC Pro League itself.

What can be measured is Auckland FC.

Less than two years after entering professional football, the club has already won the A-League Championship, captured the first OFC Pro League title and made its debut on the FIFA stage.

In Jeddah, facing a team containing players who have competed at some of the highest levels of world football, Auckland were beaten — but they were not overwhelmed.

Al-Ahli advance to meet African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria on 19 September for the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup.

Auckland FC return home with their first Intercontinental Cup campaign over after only one game, but also with a valuable reference point.

The ticket to Jeddah was earned by their OFC Pro League team. The performance in Jeddah was delivered largely by their A-League champions.

Understanding that distinction is essential when assessing what Auckland FC’s narrow defeat really tells us about the club — and about the new era of professional football that Oceania has only just begun.

From World Cup viral sensation to Superclásico winner: Tim Payne is already making his mark in Paraguay

What began as one of the most unlikely stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is rapidly developing into something far more substantial for Tim Payne.

The New Zealand international arrived in Paraguay carrying an extraordinary level of attention after going from one of the least-followed players heading into the World Cup to a social media phenomenon with millions of followers. His move from Wellington Phoenix to Olimpia inevitably attracted curiosity well beyond New Zealand and Paraguay.

A few weeks into his South American adventure, however, Payne is beginning to give people a footballing reason to continue following him.

The 32-year-old completed the full 90 minutes as Olimpia defeated arch-rivals Cerro Porteño 2-1 in the Paraguayan Superclásico on Sunday, another important step in a remarkably positive start to life with one of South America’s historic clubs.

It was Payne’s third appearance in the Paraguayan Clausura — and Olimpia have won all three matches in which the All White has taken the field.

His introduction to Paraguayan football could hardly have gone better. After entering from the bench against Rubio Ñu on August 2, Payne marked his official debut with a spectacular goal in a 5-0 victory. He later earned a place in the starting XI for the 2-1 win over Sportivo Ameliano before retaining his position for the biggest domestic fixture on Olimpia’s calendar.

Against Cerro Porteño, Payne was no longer a novelty signing waiting to be introduced to Paraguayan football. He was Olimpia’s starting right-back in front of a packed Defensores del Chaco, playing the entire Superclásico as the Decano recovered from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory.

That distinction matters.

Payne’s transfer was inevitably accompanied by discussion over its commercial potential. His extraordinary rise on social media during the World Cup gave Olimpia access to an international audience vastly larger than the one normally surrounding a Paraguayan domestic signing.

But the first weeks of his spell have begun shifting the conversation from marketing towards football.

His popularity has also started to become visible among Olimpia supporters themselves.

When the club released its squad for the Copa Paraguay round-of-32 meeting with Cristóbal Colón of J. Augusto Saldívar, Payne was among the regular starters left out as coach Pablo Sánchez prepared to rotate his team following a demanding sequence of matches. The decision quickly generated reactions from supporters on social media asking why the New Zealander was absent and when they would see him again.

Some fans pointed to the obvious explanation — that Payne was being rested and preserved for the Clausura — but the reaction itself was revealing. Only weeks after arriving in Paraguay, supporters were already asking to see the All White every time Olimpia took the field.

There have been other signs of that growing connection.

The match-worn and signed shirt from Payne’s goalscoring debut attracted extraordinary interest when it was put up for auction, with bidding reaching more than 20 million Paraguayan guaraníes. For a player who had never represented Olimpia before August, the attention surrounding his first shirt provided another indication that his World Cup fame had successfully travelled with him to Asunción.

The important difference now is that the relationship is beginning to work both ways. The global following brought attention to Olimpia, while Olimpia supporters are increasingly embracing Payne because of what he has actually done in their colours.

His South American spell has already brought him close to another significant milestone.

Payne was registered by Olimpia for the knockout stages of the Copa Sudamericana and was among the substitutes for both legs of the round-of-16 tie against Brazilian giants Vasco da Gama. He did not enter either match, with the Paraguayan side eventually eliminated after a 4-1 defeat in Asunción following a goalless first leg at São Januário.

That means Payne is still waiting for his first appearance in a CONMEBOL club competition.

The route he has taken remains extremely unusual for a New Zealand footballer.

Former All White Michael Wilson had a spell with Ecuadorian side Aucas in 2009, while Marco Rojas later represented Chilean giants Colo-Colo and went one step further by appearing in the Copa Libertadores. Payne has now added Paraguay to that very short history of New Zealand internationals establishing themselves in South American club football.

His case is particularly striking because of the environment into which he has arrived.

Olimpia are not merely another destination abroad. The club are three-time Copa Libertadores champions and one half of Paraguay’s defining football rivalry. Within weeks of leaving Wellington, Payne has gone from A-League football to playing 90 minutes in a Superclásico and being part of a Copa Sudamericana knockout squad.

The story also remains closely connected to the All Whites.

New Zealand will return to international action later this year, giving Payne another opportunity to carry his Paraguayan experience back into Darren Bazeley’s national team. The All Whites are scheduled to compete in Japan’s Kirin Cup in October before returning home for two matches against India in November.

For Payne, regular minutes at Olimpia would provide a very different preparation for those international windows from anything he had experienced before the World Cup.

And that may ultimately become the most interesting part of the story.

During the World Cup, millions began following Tim Payne because an internet campaign turned an almost unknown New Zealand defender into an unlikely global celebrity.

Olimpia recognised the opportunity and brought that audience to Paraguay.

But football has a way of deciding whether those stories last.

A goal on debut, three league appearances followed by three victories, a full 90 minutes in a winning Superclásico and Olimpia supporters already asking why he is not involved when his name disappears from a matchday squad suggest that Payne is beginning to accomplish something much more difficult than becoming viral.

He is becoming relevant for what happens on the pitch.

Ghupo answer critics on the pitch as Green Shield keep marching in S-League

Ghupo FC produced one of the main talking points of the S-League weekend in Solomon Islands, defeating Laugu United 3-2 in a dramatic contest and giving fresh substance to the defence mounted by their supporters after recent criticism of the club.

Wilfred Mani opened the scoring for Ghupo in the 24th minute before Steve Morris equalised for Laugu in first-half stoppage time. Nathanaiel Eddie restored Ghupo’s advantage shortly after the restart, but Joel Karani brought Laugu level again in the 62nd minute.

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time, when Kevin Samia struck in the 96th minute to secure a 3-2 victory for Ghupo.

The result carries particular significance considering the discussion around the club in recent weeks. Ghupo’s difficult start and the wider questions surrounding the project led to considerable debate, including a strong reaction from supporters who argued that the team’s performances deserved more credit than the results suggested.

This time, Ghupo provided the strongest possible response: three points on the pitch.

The victory does not erase the wider questions surrounding the club or automatically transform its season, but it does add another important result to a campaign that is beginning to look more competitive than its opening weeks suggested.

Elsewhere, Green Shield continued their impressive form with a convincing 3-0 victory over Marist FC.

Bobby Kennedy Leslie gave Green Shield an early advantage in the fifth minute before Kiren Israel doubled the lead in the 69th. Colman Makasi completed the scoring in the 90th minute as Green Shield maintained their momentum near the top end of the competition.

Saturday’s action produced the most spectacular scoreline of the round as KOSSA defeated Southern United 5-4.

Southern United’s Spensor Vaevo scored a hat-trick, finding the net in the 13th, 55th and 63rd minutes, while an own goal from Besa Zopoa also contributed to their tally.

KOSSA, however, found five goals of their own. Lestra Lili scored an own goal in their favour before Bryan Feni, Felix Bello, Phillimon Talisa and Milton Taolo all found the net to secure another valuable victory.

The opening fixture of the round saw SOSA FC and Malaita Kingz share the points in a 2-2 draw.

Atkin Kaua gave Malaita Kingz the lead in the 14th minute, but Ronald Kivolyn struck twice, in the 35th and 40th minutes, to turn the match around before half-time. Ben Fox then scored deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for Malaita Kingz.

One scheduled fixture was absent from the weekend programme, with Honiara City against Central Coast FC postponed because of Central Coast’s participation in the OFC Champions League.

The postponement is an important factor when looking at the current S-League picture. Central Coast’s continental commitments mean they have played fewer domestic matches than several rivals, making the standings less straightforward than the points totals alone suggest.

For Green Shield, however, the task has been simple: keep winning while the opportunity is there.

For Ghupo, the weekend carried a different significance.

The club has been one of the most discussed sides in the league, both because of its results and because of the attention surrounding its project. Its supporters strongly defended the team when criticism arrived.

Against Laugu, Ghupo finally gave them the argument that matters most in football: a win.

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.