Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek
Samoa will be looking to prove they can make the step up in competition when their OFC Men’s Nations Cup 2024 campaign gets underway in Suva this weekend.
Having successfully booked their place following an impressive showing in March’s qualifying tournament in Tonga, Ryan Stewart and his team will be hoping to build on that momentum when they take on Tahiti in their opening Group B fixture.
Two wins from two saw Samoa top the qualification table ahead of Tonga and the Cook Islands earlier this year – a welcome rebound following their frustrating Men’s Olympic Qualifying campaign, where despite winning their first match, were unable to advance past the group stage.
A number of that squad make up the bulk of those selected this month, including Kyah Cahill and Greg Siamoa – both of whom were on the scoresheet in that sole Olympic victory over Tonga in Auckland.
The team have been enjoying a pre-tournament training camp in Auckland before they head out to Fiji, which has provided Head Coach Ryan Stewart with the rare opportunity to have his whole squad together.
“Getting the players together was a real thing we wanted to work on after the Pacific Games, especially getting them together for a longer period.
“Playing games as well helps before a tournament, as you can end up playing three matches and then not see one another again for six months,” Stewart explained.
Whilst many of the squad played in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in New Zealand last year, there a number of more experienced additions for the Nations Cup, which Stewart is confident will help his side deal with the increase in standard in Suva.
“Yeah, the older players have all played at a decent level, both in Samoa and abroad, and with that comes experience. So it’s something that we will definitely be leaning on quite a bit throughout the tournament,” he said.
With Samoa having also participated in the Pacific Games at the end of last year, there will be little in the way of surprises for Stewart and his team in the shape of their Group B opponents.
“We played Tahiti last year in the Pacific Games, and we were 1-0 up and lost that one unfortunately, so we’ll we’ll take lessons from that game and try to put it right this time.
“Then Fiji had a friendly against the Solomon Islands a couple of months ago, so it was good to have a look at them, and I know Rob Sherman (Fiji Head Coach) quite well, so I know a bit about his teams anyway,” he continued.
Samoa squad for the OFC Men’s Nations Cup 2024
Goalkeepers
Joel Bartley
Kirk Auvele
Paul Taupau
Defenders
Luke Tolo-Kent
Taine Wilson
Andrew Setefano
Harry Chote
Niko Steinmetz
Faiti Hamilton-Pama
Luke Salisbury
Midfielders
Kaleb De Groot-Green
Jarvia Vaai
Jesse Vine
Dauntae Mariner
Caleb Hilbron
Alex Malauulu
Forwards
Juan Gobbi
Darcy Knight
Pharrell Trainor
Greg Siamoa
Michael Tumua Leo
Dilo Tumua
Kyah Cahill