August 12, 2026
These diaries have on three occasions covered matches in the OFC Champions League Qualifying stages, featuring sides from Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji and American Samoa.
For the 2026 edition being hosted by Fiji, seven associations ( Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu) were awarded one berth each in the group stage without this year having to hold an in-country play-off to determine the sides to qualify. The sides representing each nation in the group stages were respectively Rewa, Tiga Sport, Auckland City, Lae City, Central Coast, AS Venus and Galaxy.
The final place continues to be filled by the winner from the so called 4 “developing” nations ( Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga ), with Tupapa Maraerenga from the Cook Islands being the side to progress this year. Tupapa Maraerenga had twice appeared in these diaries.
Since sides from Australia were no longer eligible to participate in Oceania competitions due to Australia joining the Asian Football Competition in 2006, the OFC Champions League had been won by sides from New Zealand every time, except in 2005, when Hekari United from Papua New Guinea, and 2019 when Hienghene Sports from New Caledonia, had been surprise winners.
Since Covid, Auckland City had won four consecutive titles, making it 13 titles in total.
This would be the first time in which the champions would not qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, as the Infantino inspired OFC Professional League with newly created professional teams would now take their place instead, reducing this competition to a second tier one. A side representing Auckland FC, who play in the Australia A-League, won the 2026 OFC Professional League.
Football In Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea ( PNG ) is the eastern half of the island of New Guinea plus some offshore Melanesian islands. The western part of New Guinea is part of Indonesia. The island is the second largest in the world, and is separated from Australia by the 150 kilometre wide Torres Strait, with the Solomon Islands to the east. The population of the country is estimated to be just under 12 million.
PNG was administered by Australia under a League of Nations mandate until independence was granted in 1976. Given the Australian influence, Rugby League and Cricket are the most popular sports in the country, with Football having a much lower profile.
English is the official language of business and government although the most widely spoken language is Tok Pisin, which is more commonly known as pidgin English.
I have never been to Papua New Guinea but my brother worked there for three years. Being a rugby player, he joined the PNG Barbarians but quit after two games claiming the locals took the opportunity to give the foreigners a good kicking !
Papua New Guinea were currently 168th in the FIFA rankings although they hadn’t played any games since November 2025, but were currently on an unbeaten run of 6 games stretching back to November 2024, when a 1-2 defeat in Port Moresby to the Solomon Islands confirmed their exit from the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup.
The team are known as The Kapuls, which is Tok Pisin for Cuscus, a breed of Australasian Possums.
One footballer from PNG had previously been mentioned in these diaries, midfielder David Browne ( 3 caps ) played for HJK Helsinki in 2020.
The PNG National Soccer League was formed in 2006 and rebranded as the PNG Premier Soccer League in 2022. Port Moresby based Hekari United have won 10 titles, followed by Lae City with 7, which were all won in consecutive years between 2015 and 2022.
The 2025 PNG Premier Soccer League featured 11 sides who played a 20-game regular season, with the top four qualifying for the play-off semi-finals to determine the overall winners. Lae City went through the 20-game season unbeaten and were top by 10 points. However, they lost the semi-final play-off on penalties to fellow Lae side Morobe Wawens after a 1-1 draw, who went on to lose 1-3 to Kemera based Gulf Komara in the Grand Final. This was the first time the title had not been won by either Hekari United or Lae City.
The consolation for Lae City was they were declared minor premiers for topping the regular season table and given PNG’s spot in the 2026 OFC Champions Cup.
The 2026 season contains 12 teams and is currently at its half-way mark. Lae City were again at the top, although this time had lost one match ( 1-3 to mid-table Kula ) but still led the table by 6 points ahead of Port Moresby Strikers, with PNG Hekari FC ( a name change for Hekari United ) in third and Gulf Komara in fourth.
Lae City were formed in 2014 and as the name suggests are based in the northern city of Lae, the second largest in the country. Lae City had participated in the OFC Champions League on 4 previous occasions, reaching the quarter finals in 2018 and 2019.
The Lae City squad was entirely of PNG nationals, but the only current international was captain and keeper Ronald Warisan ( 32 caps ), although defender Philip Steven had 3 caps. Midfielder Nalau Moses was captain of the PNG Under 19s.
Football In Vanuatu
Vanuatu is an archipelago of more than 80 islands in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean, situated 1,750 km east of northern Australia, north east of New Caledonia, south-east of the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, and west of Fiji. The population was estimated in 2023 at being around 335,000, and the capital is Port Vila.
Vanuatu had been jointly administered by France and The UK under the name of the New Hebrides until independence was achieved in 1980, and the name of the country was changed. Football is the most popular sport on the islands.
The official languages are English, French and Bislama, an English based Creole language.
Vanuatu were currently 160th in the FIFA rankings with their one notable victory being a 4-2 triumph over New Zealand in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup, although they have lost the other 14 meetings against the Kiwis !
The team are known by the uninspiring name The Men In Black And Gold…….
One footballer from Vanuatu had previously been mentioned in these diaries, defender Brian Kaltak ( 32 caps ) had played in three Central Coast Mariners matches reported on. Kaltak now plays for fellow A-League side Perth Glory.
Vanuatu has eight regional associations, each with their own league, with the Port Vila Football Association considered to be the strongest. The top four of the Port Vila Premier League qualify for the PVFA Top Four, the winner of which would be one of the two sides from Vanuatu to qualify for the OFC Champions League, back when there were two sides qualifying. The winners of each regional competition play in the VFF Champions League, which would produce the other qualifier for the Champions League. ABM Galaxy were the winners of both the 2025/26 PVFA Super League and the 2026 VFF Champions League.
Au Bon March Galaxy, to give them their full name, were founded in 2014 and have won the VFF Champions League on four occasions.
The ABM Galaxy squad was predominantly home based but also included a couple of journeymen Brazilians, namely winger Willian Dos Santos Medina and veteran play-maker Roberson Dos Santos Ribiero, the latter having been a member of the Galaxy teams that participated in the 2022 and 2024 OFC Champions Cups.
Galaxy also had two Solomon Islands internationals, keeper Michael Laulae ( 4 caps ) and defender Aengari Gagame ( 1 cap ). I hope Gagame fares better with referees than former Crawley Town player Tony Goodgame, who when asked for his name for a booking replied “It’s A Goodgame, ref” and was promptly sent off as the referee thought he was being sarcastic rather than being accurate ! However, given the way the commentators pronounced his name as “ga-gar-may”, he is unlikely to have this problem………….
Vanuatu internationals included defender Tasso Jeffrey ( 12 caps ), midfielder Claude Aru ( 14 caps ), defender Selwyn Vatu ( 13 caps ) and forward Thomas Maliwan ( 1 cap ).
Previous Meeting
ABM Galaxy and Lae City played each other in the 2021 OFC Champions League in Auckland, but the 2-2 draw did little favour to either side, with both failing to finish in the top two in their group
2026 OFC Champions League So Far
Home favourites Rewa, ABM Galaxy, Lae City and qualifier Tupapa Maraerenga formed Group B.
Lae City began with a 4-1 victory over Tupapa Maraerenga with Solomon Kamake, Moses, Rue Api and an own goal on the scoresheet. Tremaine Rimene-Albrett scored the consolation for Tupapa.
Galaxy caused a major surprise in their first game, beating hosts Rewa 4-1 with Medina grabbing a hat-trick in front of a crowd of 1,100. Andrew Malakai was the other goal-scorer for Galaxy.
Prior to the start of this game, Rewa collected their first points in the competition by beating Tupapa 4-2.
Matchday Information
The match was being played in the Four R Stadium, Govind Park in Ba which has a capacity of 13,000 and a grass pitch. It is the home of Super Rugby side Fijian Drua and Fiji Premier League side Ba.
The weather at the 19.00 local time kick-off ( 08.00 UK ) was dark but cloudy and dry, with the temperature 23 degrees
The match was streamed live on FIFA+ with a commentary in English.
Lae City were unchanged from the side that started against Tupapa but Galaxy made two changes with Sandy Wilson and Andew Vuti coming into the side at the expense of Malakai and Henry Namatak.
The referee was Anna-Marie Keighley from New Zealand.
Lae City were playing in a patterned kit of mostly blue with some yellow splodges, and yellow socks, whilst Galaxy had a shirt with red and white half hoops on the front and all red on the back, with red shorts and socks.
Match Report
Galaxy started well, confidently passing the ball around but overhitting the final passes. Medina was already looking lively and was involved in all of the good things Galaxy were doing.
In the 7th minute, Roberson was bundled over by the corner flag by Gabby Yanum for a free-kick to Galaxy. Maliwan’s delivery was overhit and Vatu could only meekly head many yards wide.
The first corner of the game arrived in the 11th minute for Galaxy after a left-wing cross from Vatu was headed behind by Langarap Samol, but the set-piece from Romain Luake went harmlessly off for a goal-kick.
PNG Under 19 international David Tita was fouled after making a good run into the Galaxy half, winning a free-kick close to the left-hand touchline. Galaxy keeper Laulae went for the free-kick from Samol but he badly misjudged it and the ball sailed over his head, and Charles Hayes had a simple header at the far post into the empty net. 1-0 against the run of play after 13 minutes.
Galaxy’s response to falling behind was for Medina to win a corner off Yanum, which was cleared, and when Maliwan crossed from the left wing, the volley from Vatu, was high, wide and not so handsome.
Tita made another strong run down left wing. but his cross from byline went straight to keeper Laulae.
In the 18th minute, Wilson showed good feet to keep a move flowing but the danger ended with Vuti being a yard off-side
Two minutes later Roberson chipped ball over Lae City back line for Medina to try a run onto, but Warisan did well to come of his line and used his experience to shepherd the ball off for a goal-kick.
Roberson was now seeing a lot of the ball and played a pass to the feet of Medina inside the Lae area, who played a short pass to Luake, but shot from 12 yards rolled agonisingly just wide of the far post
Medina seemed to have been anointed as the Galaxy free-kick specialist, firstly sending a 30-yard free-kick well over the bar, then sending a second effort into the defensive wall. The latter free-kick came after Medina was chopped down by Samol a few yards outside the Lae area and he rolled around on floor. Lae City keeper Warisan stormed out of his area to scream something at the prone Brazilian and was promptly shown a yellow card, which was to be the only one of the game.
On the half hour, Medina spread play from right to left and after the ball was worked to Roberson, his 25-yard effort hit the bar with the keeper beaten and went over.
Two minutes later Roberson teed up Maliwan just outside the area, but the left-footed first-time effort lacked power, and Warisan made a routine save.
Tita then made another eye-catching run down the left for Lae City and won a throw-in near the corner flag, but the attack came to nothing.
Medina showed good chest control to bring down Maliwan’s long ball and then turned onto his left foot as Samol slid by, but the shot went a couple of feet wide.
Shortly after, a long ball from Jeffrey put Medina clear and the Brazilian coolly lobbed the Lae City keeper as he rushed off his line. There was a strong suspicion of off-side but with no VAR in this competition, the goal stood to make it 1-1 with 39 minutes played.
Lae quickly forced a corner which was overhit, shortly followed by Vatu winning a corner for Galaxy. After Warisan punched the corner away, Maliwan ran back into the Lae City area but went down far too easily when challenged and the referee waved play on.
Galaxy keeper Laulae’s dodgy performance continued as he came out of his area to gather the ball near the corner flag, but he was tackled by Kamake, who opted to immediately cross into the Galaxy, but no team-mate was up in support.
In first half added time Yanum collided into Medina, leading to a lengthy delay, but the Brazilian was okay to continue for the second half.
The score remained 1-1 at the interval but Galaxy had looked the more dangerous side.
Galaxy dominated the early proceedings in the second period as first Vatu cut back onto right foot but his 20-yarder drifted well wide, then Medina’s glancing header was saved, but offside flag had been raised.
Jeffrey, under pressure from Kamake, played a poor back pass which went off for a corner to Lae City, which was well defended
Luake was now getting into the action and he beat three defenders before being fouled. A minute later his free-kick from the right-hand touchline went beyond far post, Warisan went for it but missed it, and Gagame headed back across goal, but the ball was cleared.
Jeffrey then played a ball behind Lae City backline for Maliwan to run onto, but he was stopped by a superb tackle by Hayes at the expense of a corner. The set-piece was played long, and again Gagame headed back across goal, but Medina volleyed wide on the turn from the 6 yard line.
Maliwan then sent a weak long-range effort straight to Warisan.
After 58 minutes, Lae City should have again taken a lead against the run of play. A lovely through ball was played by Tita down the left-hand channel, and Kamake got to it before Laulae. The Lae City striker went round the keeper, but with the goal gaping he could only put the effort with the outside of his foot into the side netting. A golden opportunity had gone begging.
Three minutes later, a 35-yard effort from Vuti was pushed into the air by Warisan and caught at the second attempted in a piece of dog’s dinner keeping. It should have been an easy catch.
With 63 minutes on the clock, a good sliding tackle by Vatu prevented Moses being put clear into the Galaxy area.
The game turned a few minutes later. Aru played a forward ball which Samol should have dealt with, but he failed to cut-out the pass, and Medina ran clear and slipped the ball past the advancing keeper. 1-2 after 69 minutes
Laulae continued to put the Galaxy supporters’ hearts in their mouth as he dropped a cross which should have been meat and drink. Kamake won possession and worked the ball back to Tita, but the shot from the angle of the penalty areas went a few feet over the bar.
A minute later another long ball out of the Galaxy defence was headed on by Roberson, beating Samol in the air, and Medina set chase. Collecting the ball, he cut inside Sopo and produced a left-footed shot across goal into the far corner before Yanum could slide in to block. 1-3 in the 71st minute.
Medina’s second hat-trick in two games appeared to have wrapped up the contest. Lae City briefly had a good spell of possession but rarely looked like creating a clear-cut chance, with just substitute Api’s 25 yard left footed attempt going a couple of feet over the bar to show for it.
Indeed, with full-time approaching it was Galaxy who looked the more likely to claim the next goal. A good low cross from left by substitute Joe Moses missed by everyone in the middle, and when Maliwan recovered possession his cross was blocked.
Maliwan then played a pass to Medina inside the Lae City area, but after beating Bomecge Basananuc, he was crowded out by Samol and Hosea Sikoko. Medina was able to lay the ball back to Moses, who poked a left footed effort a few feet wide from 12 yards.
A patient passing move involving Vatu, Roberson and Aru saw Bong Kalo chip over Lae City backline for Vatu to run onto and cross first time left footed from close to the byline. Samol attempted a wild clearance but only succeeded in slicing wide of the goal and off for a corner. Warisan flapped at the corner, sending it as far as Medina just outside the area, who struck the bouncing ball left footed, but his effort was blocked inside the 6 yard box by Basananuc.
With the 90 minutes just about up, sloppy play by Galaxy gave away possession and Lae City streamed forward as Galaxy’s midfield trotted back. Tita released Yanum, who set-up Gordon Mark, but his shot from 12 yards struck the base of the post and bounced away to safety.
There was still time for Galaxy to break quickly with a 2 on 1. Medina unselfishly drew Basananuc and put Maliwan clear with just the keeper to beat, but his poor finishing on the day continued as Warisan bravely saved with his body before the two players collided, leaving the keeper requiring lengthy treatment after the ball bounced wide.
Eventually Warisan was carried off on a stretcher, but as Lae City had used all of their permitted substitutes, outfielder Tita was forced to don the gloves and the goal-keeping shirt, and Lae City would have play out the closing couple of minutes with just 10 players. However, Tita added to his growing reputation by making a confident catch from Moses’ left-wing cross.
With this victory, Galaxy became the first side to qualify for the semi-final, and a draw against back-markers Tupapa should be enough to avoid meeting Auckland FC until the final. Lae City now need a draw in their final game against hosts Rewa to also go through to the semis.
Galaxy played a lot of neat passing football, and with their two Brazilians in good form, they could be a good bet to reach the final, and maybe even win the competition !
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=octlyOmhNQ8
Lae City : Warisan – Hayes ( Philip ), Steven ( Basananuc ), Samol, Yanum, – N Moses, Mark, Sopo ( Api ), Hatagao ( Sikoko ), Tita – Kamake
ABM Galaxy : Laulae – Wilson ( Kiletier ), Gagame, , Jeffrey, Vatu ( Malakai ) – Luake ( J Moses ), Vuti, Roberson, Aru ( Kalo ), Maliwan - Medina
