Suspensions cause problems for Auckland City's OFC Champions ...

15 days ago

Friends of Football

Auckland City’s opening game opponents at the OFC Men’s Champions League tournament in Tahiti face a defensive dilemma after suspensions to two key players.

Champions League - Figure 1 — Photo Friends of Football

Fiji’s Rewa FC will be without Iosefo Verevou and Samuela Kautoga, who both received two yellow cards against Lautoka in the national play-offs against Lautoka in February.

This means Rewa will have to re-arrange their backline around Peniame Drova for the match against Auckland City on Saturday May 11.

Main photo: Auckland celebrate with the trophy after their OFC Champions League success in 2022. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

Auckland City are chasing their third OFC title in a row, and their 12th overall.

Auckland City’s Angus Kilkolly helped seal his side’s 2023 title with a goal from the penalty spot in the final against Suva at the tournament in Vanuatu. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

The Navy Blues’ opponents in Group A are Rewa, who finished runners-up in last season’s Fiji Premier League, Papua New Guinea champions Hekari United and Solomon Warriors, who won the Telekom S-League in a tight three-way finish.

Champions League - Figure 2 — Photo Friends of Football

In Group B, the qualifying clubs are Tahiti’s AS Pirae, runners-up in the 2022-23 Tahiti Ligue 1, seven-time Samoa National League winners Vaivase-Tai, Vanuatu’s Ifira Black Bird and AS Magenta, who won New Caledonia’s 2023 Super Ligue.

Ifira Black Bird gave Auckland City a huge scare in the 2023 tournament semi-final, losing a penalty shoot out to the New Zealanders after scores were tied 2-2 after extra time.

The prize for winning the OFC Champions League

The winners of the OFC Men’s Champions League will qualify to represent Oceania at a new annual FIFA club competition, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Champions League - Figure 3 — Photo Friends of Football

READ MORE: Pathway confirmed for New Zealand clubs in new annual FIFA competition >>>>

The groups

Group A Auckland City (New Zealand) Solomon Islands Warriors (Solomon Islands) Hekari United (Papua New Guinea) Rewa (Fiji)

Group B AS Pirae (Tahiti) Vaivase-Tai FC (Samoa) Ifira Black Bird (Vanuatu) Magenta (New Caledonia)

Fixtures

Group A

Games to be played on Saturday May 11, 2024

Rewa v Auckland City Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)

Solomon Warriors v Hekari United Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 4pm (NZT)

Champions League - Figure 4 — Photo Friends of Football

Games to be played on Tuesday May 14, 2024

Auckland City v Hekari United Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)

Solomon Warriors v Rewa Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 4pm (NZT)

Games to be played on Friday May 17, 2024

Hekari United v Rewa Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)

Auckland City v Solomon Warriors Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 4pm (NZT)

Group B

Games to be played on Sunday May 12, 2024

Ifira Black Bird v AS Magenta Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)

AS Pirae v Vaivase-tai Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 5pm (NZT)

Champions League - Figure 5 — Photo Friends of Football

Games to be played on Wednesday May 15, 2024

AS Magenta v Vaivase-tai Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)

AS Pirae v Ifira Black Bird Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 5pm (NZT)

Games to be played on Saturday May 18, 2024

Vaivase-tai v Ifira Black Bird Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)

AS Magenta v AS Pirae Venue to be confirmed, Tahiti, 5pm (NZT)

Knockout stages

The winners of Group A will play the runners-up of Group B, and the winners of Group B will play the runners-up of Group A in semi-finals to be staged on Saturday May 25, 2024.