The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has released the draw for the OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008, and it pits OFC champions New Zealand against Fiji in the opening round.
The tournament will run from December 13- 17 and the winner of the four team competition will earn a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.
The four team tournament – also including hosts Tahiti and New Caledonia will follow a round robin format and be played across three venues in Papeete – Stade Paea, Stade Mahina and Stade Puurai.
New Zealand won last year’s OFC U-20 Championships in New Zealand after defeating teams from Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tahiti and Vanuatu and won a spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup – Canada 2007.
In Canada, New Zealand faced some of the best young players in the world and suffered defeats by Portugal 0-2, Gambia 0-1 and Mexico 1-2 and missed out on qualification for the round of 16.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 will run from 25 September to 16 October.
OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008 Draw
Match Day 1 – Saturday 13 December 2008
Time Fixture Venue
16H00 (Local time) New Zealand vs Fiji Stade Paea
18H30 (Local time) Tahiti vs New Caledonia Stade Paea
Match Day 2 – Monday 15 December 2008
Time Fixture Venue
16H00 (Local time) New Zealand vs Tahiti Stade Mahina
18H30 (local time) New Caledonia vs Fiji Stade Mahina
Match Day 3 – Wednesday 17 December 2008
Time Fixture Venue
16H00 (Local time) New Caledonia vs New Zealand Stade Puurai
18H30 (Local time) Fiji vs Tahiti Stade Puurai