Football At The 2015 Pacific Games – Men's Tournament

The 2015 Pacific Games men's football tournament was the 14th edition of the Pacific Games men's football tournament. The men's football tournament was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea between 3–17 July 2015 as part of the 2015 Pacific Games. The tournament was age-restricted and open to men's under-23 national teams only.

The tournament also doubled as the 7th edition of the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the quadrennial international tournament organised by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to determine which men's under-23 national teams from Oceania qualify for the Football at the Summer Olympics, Olympic football tournament. A separate qualifying tournament was initially set to take place at Tonga between 2–12 December 2015. However, it was later decided to absorb the qualifying tournament into the Pacific Games, as the New Zealand national under-23 football team, New Zealand team participated for the first time in the Pacific Games men's football tournament.

As some of the participating teams are not members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and thus ineligible for the Olympics, there were two separate knockout stages, one for Olympic qualifying where the winner qualified for the Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament, 2016 Summer Olympics men's football tournament, and another for determining the Pacific Games medalists.

New Caledonia national under-23 football team, New Caledonia won the Pacific Games gold medal, while Fiji national under-23 football team, Fiji qualified for the Olympic football tournament for the first time after winning the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament.

Teams

A total of eight teams participated in the tournament.

Eligibility status

The teams are eligible for one or both knockout stages depending on their affiliation.

Venues

Squads

Group stage

The draw was held on 1 June 2015 at the OFC Headquarters at Auckland. The eight teams were drawn into two groups of four.

For the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, only the five teams (Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) which are FIFA and IOC members were eligible. The top two IOC member teams of each group advanced to the Olympic Qualifying semi-finals.

For the Pacific Games Men's Football Tournament, the top two teams of each group advanced to the Pacific Games semi-finals with the exception of New Zealand, who were not eligible as they are not a Pacific Games Council member.

All times UTC+10:00, UTC+10.

Group A

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Group B

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Olympic Qualifying knockout stage

Only the five teams (Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) which are both FIFA and IOC members were eligible for this stage.

Olympic Qualifying semi-finals

New Zealand advanced to the Olympic Qualifying final with a 2–0 result, but were replaced by Vanuatu on the day of the final after the Oceania Football Confederation found that they had fielded an ineligible player, Deklan Wynne. The match was declared a 3–0 victory for Vanuatu. New Zealand were unable to appeal before the final was played and subsequently announced they would appeal, but on 23 October 2015, the OFC announced that New Zealand's appeal had been rejected, meaning New Zealand's only chance to overturn the decision would be to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On 13 November 2015, New Zealand Football confirmed that they would not appeal.

Olympic Qualifying final

Fiji national under-23 football team, Fiji qualified for Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament, 2016 Summer Olympics. This was the first time a team from OFC other than Australia or New Zealand qualified for the Olympics.

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¹ Bold indicates champion for that year. ''Italic'' indicates host for that year. Statistics include all Olympic format (current Olympic under-23 format started in 1992).

Pacific Games knockout stage

New Zealand were not eligible as they are not a Pacific Games Council member.

Pacific Games semi-finals

Bronze medal match

Gold medal match

Goalscorers

;17 goals
* Jean Kaltack

;11 goals
* Antonio Tuivuna

;10 goals
* Bill Nicholls (Vanuatuan footballer), Bill Nicholls

;9 goals

* Napolioni Qasevakatini
* Christopher Wasasala

;8 goals
* Fred Tissot

;6 goals

* Tony Kaltack
* Barry Mansale

;5 goals

* Garish Prasad
* Iosefo Verevou
* Michel Maihi

;4 goals

* Manuarii Hauata
* Mauarii Tehina
* Tevairoa Tehuritaua

;3 goals

* Monty Patterson
* Logan Rogerson
* Tommy Semmy
* Raiamanu Tauira
* Yohann Tihoni

;2 goals

* Manasa Nawakula
* Jim Ouka
* Dalong Damalip
* Brian Kaltack
* Abraham Roqara

;1 goal

* Nickel Chand
* Savenaca Nakalevu
* Tevita Waranaivalu
* Cedric Decoire
* Pierre Kauma
* Raphael Oiremoin
* Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi
* Luka Prelevic
* Alex Rufer
* Bill Tuiloma
* Patrick Aisa
* Alwin Komolong
* Jacob Sabua
* Davidson Tome
* Tauatua Lucas
* Louis Petigas
* Tehei Taupotini
* Chris Andrews (footballer), Chris Andrews
* Zicka Manuhi
* Nemani Nickiau

;Own goal
* Allen Peter (playing against New Caledonia)

See also

*Football at the 2015 Pacific Games – Women's tournament

References

External links

Official 2015 Pacific Games websiteXV Pacific Games Men's Tournament
Official OFC website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Men's Football at the 2015 Pacific Games
Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification, Ofc
OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, 2015
Football at the 2015 Pacific Games, Mens