Cook Islands, Tahiti, New Caledonia, and New Zealand touched down in Honiara on Wednesday ahead of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, which kicks off this Sunday at Lawson Tama Stadium and the National Stadium.
With the latest arrivals, only Fiji is yet to arrive on Thursday as excitement builds among local football fans eager to witness the next generation of regional football talent in action.
Samoa, who arrived over the weekend, and Papua New Guinea (PNG), who landed on Monday morning, were the first teams to arrive in the country.
Group A will open the tournament on Sunday at Lawson Tama Stadium, with Cook Islands facing PNG at 12pm local time, followed by Fiji meeting Tahiti at 3pm.
Group B begins their campaign on Monday at the National Stadium. New Zealand will take on Samoa at 12pm, before an all-Melanesian clash sees hosts Solomon Islands face New Caledonia at 3pm.
With more than just silverware at stake, this year’s edition will also serve as the qualifying tournament for the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ 2026 in Qatar.
The top three finishers, champions, runners-up, and third place, will all secure their spots on the world stage.
By Timothy Inifiri Jnr
Solomon Star, Honiara
