OFC Nations Cup Profiles
Samoa
Samoa earned the right to take part in the Nations Cup by winning stage one of World Cup qualifying as hosts last November and are very much the underdogs of this tournament.
They held off the challenges of fellow minnows American Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga to book their spot in Honiara and will be aware of the need to lift their standards as the step up in quality will be notable.
In contrast to many of the other competing countries, Samoa is not a footballing nation and the oval ball code of rugby still dominates the local sporting landscape.
The development of the world game was halted in 2008 when FIFA was forced to set up a normalisation committee at Football Federation Samoa, resulting in a period of inactivity on the international scene.
But the country has since bounced back to become fully involved in OFC competitions once more. The senior men’s team announced their return in impressive fashion with that World Cup-qualifying triumph and their female counterparts did likewise with a third-place finish in Olympic Games qualifying in March.
Tunoa Lui, the man who successfully led Samoa through stage one, is no longer in charge and Malo Vaga has instead been given the responsibility of ensuring the nation’s recent progress continues.
Several key players have made themselves unavailable and the absences of striker Des Fa’aiuaso, goalkeeper Masi Toetu and midfield duo Jared Curtis and Shaun Easthope will be keenly felt. But there is still enough talent for Samoa to catch out at least one of their more established rivals.
The side is likely to be built around Andrew Setefano, who has O-League experience with Papua New Guinea club Hekari United, Luki Gosche, Mike Saofaiga and the Hoeflich brothers, Joseph and Max.
Silao Malo, a national hero after scoring the decisive goal in the stage one success, is also included and his goal threat from midfield could prove crucial.

Share