Navua have produced one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FMF Inter-District Championship, eliminating defending champions Rewa 4-1 on penalties after a goalless draw in their Super Premier Division semi-final at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday. Substitute goalkeeper Jovilisi Borisi emerged as the hero, saving attempts from Scott Wara and Semi Nabenu before Apolosi Seru converted the decisive spot-kick to send Navua into Sunday’s final.
Few would have considered Navua favourites heading into the encounter. Rewa had dominated Group A, scoring nine goals and conceding only once across three matches, including emphatic victories over Nasinu and Labasa. The Delta Tigers entered the knockout stage unbeaten and were widely regarded as one of the strongest contenders to retain the trophy they won in 2025.
Navua, meanwhile, had to overcome the absence of two important players. Fiji international Thomas Dunn, who recently scored the winning goal for the national team against Vanuatu in the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup final, was suspended after accumulating two yellow cards during the group stage. Simione Damuni, another important member of the squad, was also unavailable for the same reason.
The suspensions left coach Roderick Singh facing a difficult challenge against an opponent that had demonstrated considerable attacking strength throughout the tournament.
Nevertheless, Singh had insisted before the match that his players were capable of competing against the defending champions.
“Rewa are the champions and we will give them the respect but will play our own style of football,” the Navua coach told FijiLive.
His team delivered on that determination.
Despite Rewa’s superior attacking record and the expectations surrounding the defending champions, Navua managed to keep the Delta Tigers scoreless throughout the opening 90 minutes.
The contest remained tightly balanced, with neither side able to find the breakthrough required to avoid extra time. An additional 30 minutes also failed to separate the teams, leaving the first place in the 2026 IDC final to be decided from the penalty spot.
It was there that Navua’s most decisive figure emerged.
Jovilisi Borisi, who had started the match on the substitutes’ bench with Tevita Ravia initially occupying the goalkeeper’s position, became the central character in the shootout.
Borisi denied Scott Wara and Semi Nabenu, producing two crucial saves that transformed the contest in Navua’s favour. With Rewa unable to convert those opportunities, Navua maintained their advantage before Apolosi Seru stepped forward to score the winning penalty.
The successful kick sparked emotional celebrations among the Navua players and supporters as the magnitude of their achievement became clear.
For Borisi, the performance was particularly significant. Earlier in the season, he had experienced disappointment in another major penalty shootout when Navua lost the Fiji FACT final to Ba. On that occasion, he saved an attempt from Suliano Tawanakoro but could not prevent the Men in Black from lifting the trophy.
This time, the outcome was different.
His two saves against Rewa secured Navua’s return to a major domestic final and brought an abrupt end to the defending champions’ pursuit of consecutive IDC titles.
The result also represents an important achievement for Singh, whose side had entered the tournament under pressure following a disappointing Battle of the Giants campaign in September.
Navua began the IDC with a 3-0 victory over Nadi, inspired by a hat-trick from Vanuatu international Walter Leoru. They subsequently recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against Ba before holding Lautoka to a goalless draw, securing their place in the semi-finals without losing a match.
Their progress was built on resilience rather than overwhelming attacking superiority. Against Ba, captain Peniame Drova struck a dramatic late equaliser to rescue a point. Against Lautoka, Navua demonstrated the defensive organisation required to secure qualification.
Against Rewa, those qualities became even more valuable.
For the Delta Tigers, the elimination is a major disappointment after a group stage that had suggested they were capable of retaining their crown. Their emphatic opening performances established them as favourites, but they were unable to reproduce that attacking effectiveness when it mattered most.
Rewa’s defeat also guarantees that the 2026 Super Premier Division will have a new IDC champion.
Navua will now face either Ba or Labasa in Sunday’s final, scheduled for 3pm at HFC Bank Stadium. Their opponents will be determined by the second semi-final, while Navua will have limited recovery time following 120 minutes of football and the emotional demands of the shootout.
However, after overcoming the defending champions without two key players, Singh’s side will approach the final with renewed confidence.
For Navua, Saturday’s achievement was about more than surviving a penalty shootout. It was a demonstration that a disciplined and determined team could overcome the tournament favourites, even when important players were unavailable.
And for Borisi, a substitute goalkeeper who entered the contest with everything at stake, it was an afternoon that transformed him into Navua’s hero.
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