The second matchday of OFC World Cup Qualifiers begins today with two clashes from Group B, as both matches of Group A were cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Cook Islands and Vanuatu delegations.
NEW ZEALAND VS FIJI
New Zealand and Fiji will meet for the first time since 2017. The All Whites have excellent news with the arrivals of Chris Wood, Elijah Just, Callum McCowatt, Marko Stamenic and Nando Pijnaker. Another player who arrived in Doha is Wellington Phoenix’s defender Tim Payne.
Fiji defeated New Caledonia by 2-1 in the opening round of the tournament. The Bula Boys hope to break New Zealand’s unbeaten streak. Fiji’s head coach Flemming Serritslev is expected to keep the same starting eleven.
Serritslev relies on the creativity of Roy Krishna who played as an attacking midfielder against New Caledonia. Besides Krishna, Sairusi Nalaubu has to be on a great day to break through All Whites defense.
The All Whites are favorites to win, while the Fijian squad wants to make history by defeating New Zealand just like they did in 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Roy Krishna scored two goals in that match.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA VS NEW CALEDONIA
Both sides lost in the opening round, so it is a do or die game for them. Papua New Guinea’s head coach Marcos Gusmão sidelined Koriak Upaiga, David Muta, Ati Kepo and Raymond Gunemba for this game as Emmanuel Airem, Michael Foster, Kolu Kepo and Stah Gubag are expected to be in the starting eleven.
In New Caledonia, meanwhile, there are doubts if Georges Gope-Fenepej and César Zeoula will be available for the match while Wesley Lautoa is ruled out of the qualifiers. Richard Sele and Jean-Philippe Saiko are two players who might happen to make the starting eleven against Fiji.
Both matches are going to be livestreamed on Eleven Sports.
Oceania Football Center 