Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek
Tahiti head into the OFC Men’s Nations Cup 2024 as the only side other than New Zealand or Australia to have lifted the trophy, back in 2012.
Twelve years ago in Honiara, Solomon Islands, a single goal from Steevy Chong Hue was enough to give Tahiti their biggest ever win in men’s football and seal the team’s place in history. It also helped put Tahitian football on the world map, particularly with their appearance at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup™.
Despite following that success up with a runners-up place at the 2015 Pacific Games, Tahiti have struggled in recent years – failing to advance past the group stage at the 2016 OFC Men’s Nations Cup and not placing higher than 5th in subsequent Pacific Games.
Leading the team in Fiji is Samuel Garcia, who has been Head Coach since 2019. Garcia won 19 caps for the national side and has enjoyed a successful career as a coach following his retirement, including taking AS Pirae to an OFC Men’s Champions League final in 2o14 and leading AS Vénus to the final in 2022.
With Group B shaping up to be too tough to call, Garcia is acutely aware of the challenge that lies ahead for his side.
“We have the same opponents as in the Solomon Islands that we did at the Pacific Games. These are teams we already know, and we also know that Fiji will be formidable.
“It’s a tournament we’re taking very seriously,” he said.
It’s a strong squad that will make the trip to Fiji and – performance-permitting – on to Vanuatu, with a number of experienced players being selected by Garcia.
This year’s OFC Men’s Champions League finalists AS Pirae are well represented, with goalkeeper Francois Decoret, captain Alvin Tehau and dangerous forward Ariiura Labaste all featuring in the final selection.
“We’ve got a good group, with a good cohesion of young and old to balance the group. What’s more, there are two players (Alvin and Teaonui Tehau) in the squad who have already taken part in a FIFA Confederations Cup™ before,” Garcia said of his squad.
“We played a number of warm-up matches, including one against AS Magenta, who came to Tahiti to play in the OFC Men’s Champions League last month,” he continued.
Tahiti play Samoa in their opening match of the tournament on Sunday at the HFC Bank Stadium, with a win surely vital to their hopes of advancing past the group stage, with the challenge of Papua New Guinea and then co-hosts Fiji still to come.
Tahiti squad for the OFC Men’s Nations Cup 2024
Goalkeepers
Tevaitini Tamatai
Teave Teamotuaitau
Francois Decoret
Defenders
Matatia Paama
Haumau Tanetoa
Ranui Aroita
Kevin Barbe
Eddy Kaspard
Mauri Heitaa
Pothin Poma
Teva Lossec
Taumihau Tiatia
Midfielders
Terai Bremond
Tauhiti Keck
Teaonui Tehau
Franck Papaura
Alvinn Tehau
Manuarii Shan
Forwards
Shawn Tinirauarii
Ariiura Labaste
Matéo Degrumelle