OFC Futsal Championship 2008

The Solomon Islands team lines up during the national anthems at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008 – Solomon Islands v Brazil – Group A – Gimnasio Nilson Nelson, Brasilia – 2/10/08 (Photo Credit: Action Images / Matthew Childs)

The fifth edition of the OFC Futsal Championship took place in 2008 with the winner also qualifying for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in Brazil. It was the first OFC Futsal Championship since Australia’s transfer to the Asian Football Confederation, having won all of the first four titles. The tournament was held in Suva, Fiji, and was contested between seven nations in a round-robin format. Hosts Fiji were joined by Vanuatu, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, New Caledonia and Tuvalu.

Making just their second OFC Futsal Championship appearance, the Solomon Islands also recorded just their second competition win with a 5-1 victory over 2004 runners-up New Zealand in the first match of the tournament. That set the rest of the competition on high alert as the Solomon Islands continued their run with an 11-6 win over hosts Fiji and a tight 8-5 victory over New Caledonia.

Jack WETNEY – Solomon Islands in action against MARQUINHO at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008 – Solomon Islands v Brazil – Group A – Gimnasio Nilson Nelson, Brasilia – 2/10/08 (Photo Credit: Action Images / Matthew Childs)

Two-time runners-up Vanuatu did inflict a 5-2 defeat on the Solomon Islands on match day four, but they rebounded with wins over Tahiti and Tuvalu to secure their maiden OFC Futsal Championship title and qualify for the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in Brazil. Tournament debutants Tahiti finished in second, with their only loss coming against the eventual winners, whilst Vanuatu were a point behind in third.

The FIFA Futsal World Cup arena was unlike the Solomon Islands had ever faced before, up against three-time champions and hosts Brazil, alongside Russia, Japan and Cuba, the Oceania representative was in for a tough tournament. The Solomon Islands suffered a 10-2 defeat in their opening match against Cuba, this was followed by a 21-0 demolition at the hands of eventual champions of the 2008 tournament, Brazil. Their tournament would end after two more defeats to Japan and Russia.