The draw for the group stage of the 2023 OFC Champions League has been concluded and the stage is set for a thrilling tournament. The event, which was held this week at the OFC headquarters, saw teams being drawn into two groups that will play in different venues in Vanuatu. One group will be played in Port Vila while the other will be held in Luganville.
Group A promises to be an exciting affair, with current OFC Champions League winners Auckland City leading the pack. The New Zealand-based club will be up against some tough competition, including Solomon Islands’ champions Solomon Warriors, Samoa’s Lupe o le Soaga, who qualified for the tournament through the OFC Champions League qualifying stage, and Suva from Fiji that qualified for the tournament after beating Digicel Fiji Premier League winners of 2022 Rewa in the OFC Champions League national play-offs round.
Meanwhile, Group B also features some strong teams, including Tahiti’s AS Pirae, New Caledonia champions Tiga Sport, and Vanuatu’s champions Ifira Black Bird, who will host the tournament. The group is completed by Hekari United from Papua New Guinea, who have won the tournament before and will be looking to repeat their success.
The tournament, which is scheduled to take place in May, promises to be an exciting event for football fans in the Pacific region. With the top teams from each group advancing to the knockout stages, the competition is sure to be fierce, with each team fighting for the title of OFC Champions League winners.
The venues for the group stages, Port Vila and Luganville, are known for their passionate football fans and the tournament is expected to draw large crowds. The event will provide an excellent opportunity for players from the Pacific region to showcase their skills on the international stage and for fans to enjoy the best football of the region.
Oceania Football Center 