OFC Women's Nations Cup

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OFC Women's Nations Cup
Organising bodyOFC
Founded1983; 41 years ago (1983)
RegionOceania
Number of teams9 (finals)
Related competitionsOFC Nations Cup
Current champions Papua New Guinea
(1st title)
Most successful team(s) New Zealand
(6 titles)
Websiteofcwomensnationscup
2022 OFC Women's Nations Cup

The OFC Women's Nations Cup (previously known as the OFC Women's Championship) is a women's association football tournament for national teams who belong to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). It was held every three years from 1983 to 1989. Currently, the tournament is held at irregular intervals. Of the 12 tournaments that have been held, New Zealand won six of them.

The competition has served as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup since 1991. In 2007, the competition took place in Papua New Guinea for the second time. Tonga and the Solomon Islands each took part for the first time in the four-team event, which was plagued by withdrawals from six squads.

The most recent edition was played in July 2022 in Fiji and was won by Papua New Guinea for the first time.[1]

Only four nations have won the trophy: Australia (3 times), New Zealand (6 times), Chinese Taipei (2 times), and Papua New Guinea (1 time).

Australia ceased to be a member of the OFC on January 1, 2006, having elected to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and hence no longer participate in the tournament.

History[edit]

First Tournaments (1983–1989)[edit]

The OFC Women's Nations Cup started in 1983 (as the OFC Women's Championship). The first edition took place in New Caledonia, and was won by New Zealand, after defeating Australia 3–2 in Nouméa. New Caledonia and Fiji also participated in this edition. The following edition in 1986, saw New Zealand hosting the tournament. The tournament was won by guests Chinese Taipei, after beating Australia 4–1. A second New Zealand team also played in this tournament following the withdrawal of Papua New Guinea.

Chinese Taipei won again in 1989, on Australian soil, against New Zealand.[2] This edition marked the debut of Papua New Guinea, who lost all of its games.

First World Cup qualifiers (1991–1995)[edit]

The tournament returned in 1991, again in Australia; with only three teams: the hosts, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. This competition also served as the qualifying process for the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup. New Zealand finished first and qualified for the World Cup.

In 1995, Papua New Guinea was the host. This edition featured the same teams from the previous edition. Australia won the tournament this time and qualified for the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden.

1998 to today[edit]

The American Samoa and Samoa made their debuts in 1998. This time, the competition took place in Australia, and was won by them. The country won again in 2003. This was their last participation on the championship before moving to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.

The following editions were all won by New Zealand, with Papua New Guinea in the second place.

Results[edit]

The top four placed teams so far were:[3]

Ed. Year Host Final Third place play-off Number of teams
Winner Score Runner-up 3rd place Score 4th place
1 1983  New Caledonia
New Zealand
3–2
Australia

New Caledonia
Round robin
Fiji
4
2 1986  New Zealand
Chinese Taipei
4–1
Australia

New Zealand
0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–1 p)

New Zealand B
4
3 1989  Australia
Chinese Taipei
1–0
New Zealand

Australia[A]
Round robin[A]
Australia B[A]
5
4 1991  Australia
New Zealand
Round robin
Australia

Papua New Guinea
N/A 3
5 1994  Papua New Guinea
Australia
Round robin
New Zealand

Papua New Guinea
N/A 3
6 1998  New Zealand
Australia
3–1
New Zealand

Papua New Guinea
7–1
Fiji
6
7 2003  Australia
Australia
Round robin
New Zealand

Papua New Guinea
Round robin
Samoa
5
8 2007  Papua New Guinea
New Zealand
Round robin
Papua New Guinea

Tonga
Round robin
Solomon Islands
4
9 2010  New Zealand
New Zealand
11–0
Papua New Guinea

Cook Islands
2–0
Solomon Islands
8
10 2014  Papua New Guinea
New Zealand
Round robin
Papua New Guinea

Cook Islands
Round robin
Tonga
4
11 2018  New Caledonia
New Zealand
8–0
Fiji

Papua New Guinea
7–1
New Caledonia
8
12 2022  Fiji
Papua New Guinea
2–1
Fiji

Solomon Islands
1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)

Samoa
9

Notes

  1. ^ a b c The third place play-off scheduled to take place between Australia and Australia B was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch, so their group standings were used.[4]

Teams reaching the top four[edit]

Team Champions Runners-up Third-place Fourth-place
 New Zealand 6 (1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018) 4 (1989, 1994, 1998, 2003) 1 (1986)
 Australia[a] 3 (1994, 1998, 2003) 3 (1983, 1986, 1991) 1 (1989)
 Chinese Taipei[a] 2 (1986, 1989)
 Papua New Guinea 1 (2022) 3 (2007, 2010, 2014) 5 (1991, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2018)
 Fiji 2 (2018, 2022) 2 (1983, 1998)
 Cook Islands 2 (2010, 2014)
 Solomon Islands 1 (2022) 2 (2007, 2010)
 New Caledonia 1 (1983) 1 (2018)
 Tonga 1 (2007) 1 (2014)
 Australia B [a] 1 (1989)
 Samoa 2 (2003, 2022)
 New Zealand B 1 (1986)

Participating nations[edit]

A total of 15 teams have participated in the tournament, including all 11 current full OFC members (associate members are not allowed entry). Additionally, former OFC members Australia and Chinese Taipei previously participated. The secondary teams of Australia and New Zealand also each participated once.

India were set to enter the 1989 tournament as invited guests, but withdrew after being refused permission to participate by the Indian government.

Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  • GS – Group stage
  • Q – Qualified
  •  •  – Did not qualify
  •  ×  – Withdrew
  •   No longer OFC member
  •     — Hosts
Team New Caledonia
1983
New Zealand
1986
Australia
1989
Australia
1991
Papua New Guinea
1994
New Zealand
1998
Australia
2003
Papua New Guinea
2007
New Zealand
2010
Papua New Guinea
2014
New Caledonia
2018
Fiji
2022
Total
 New Zealand 1st 3rd 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st × 11
 Papua New Guinea × 5th 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st 10
 Australia[a] 2nd 2nd 3rd[b] 2nd 1st 1st 1st 7
 Cook Islands 5th × 3rd 3rd GS QF 5
 Fiji 4th 4th × × GS 2nd 2nd 5
 Tonga × 3rd GS 4th GS QF 5
 Samoa GS 4th × GS 4th 4
 Chinese Taipei[a] 1st 1st 2
 New Caledonia 3rd[c] × 4th QF 3
 Solomon Islands 4th 4th 3rd 3
 Tahiti × × GS GS QF 3
 American Samoa GS × × 1
 Australia B[a][d] 4th[b] 1
 New Zealand B[d] 4th 1
 Vanuatu × × GS GS 2

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Former OFC member, but now a member of the Asian Football Confederation.
  2. ^ a b The third place play-off scheduled to take place between Australia and Australia B was cancelled due to waterlogged pitch, so their group standings are used.
  3. ^ New Caledonia participated and hosted the tournament in 1983, but were not a member of the OFC or FIFA until 2004.
  4. ^ a b Secondary national team.

Records and statistics[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "PNG strike early to secure first Oceania Nations Cup title". Radio New Zealand. 31 July 2022.
  2. ^ Cooke, Graham (2 April 1989). "Decisive Taipei goal ensures celebration". Brisbane: The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Oceania Cup (Women)". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  4. ^ Erik Garin; Neil Morrison; "Tanaka". "Women's Oceania Cup 1989 (Brisbane)". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 September 2007.

External links[edit]