Ba has a big challenge against Auckland City at OFC Champions League

The Fijians commanded by the New Zealand football legend Ricki Herbert are not going to have an easy challenge against the powerhouse Auckland City in the first match of group D of OFC Champions League 2020.

Ba boosted their squad with the addition of the Papua New Guinean international Alwin Komolong – that might be key to hold the strong attack of Auckland City -, but can be also very dangerous upfront with the likes of Benjamin Totori and Samuela Drudru.

The Fijians will need to be at their best to avoid a defeat against the New Zealanders and this is something the coach Herbert certainly knows: the New Zealand-side coach José Figueira has plenty of quality to choose from, couting on players as Clayton Lewis, Myer Bevan and Adam Mitchell in their squad – all of them with European and New Zealand national team experience.

Auckland is coming with, probrably, their strongest ever squad for an OFC Champions League edition, but Ba might be also in the same stage: the Fijians added very important players to their team in order to compete at continental stage and had a long period of preparation guided by a very experienced coach.

The defensive system of the Men in Black might where the game will be decided: the experienced goalkeeper Beniamino Mateinaqara will need to be at his best, alongside with his defensive players led by the Fijian international Laisenia Raura.

Despite the clear favouritism of Auckland City for the encounter, the clash of two giants of Oceanian football will be a very interesting match to watch – expecting a defensive strong approach of the Fijians against the very good side from New Zealand. Stade Pater will be the venue directly from Pirae, Tahiti for this very important match, the opener of the group D of OFC Champions League 2020.