New Zealand has once again emerged as the sole representative of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in the upcoming Olympics, continuing their streak since 2008. The journey to secure this coveted spot was marked by a series of matches in the OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Samoa's national stadium at Apia.
The eight-team qualification tournament featured New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and American Samoa. Notably, New Caledonia, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands did not participate in this edition.
The tournament saw the contestants divided into two groups, with New Zealand dominating Group B by winning all three matches with clean sheets. In Group A, the Solomon Islands and Fiji advanced to the knockouts, with Papua New Guinea facing an unexpected early exit.
In the semifinals, the Solomon Islands secured a historic victory over the hosts, setting up a final clash with New Zealand. The Football Ferns displayed their prowess by scoring 11 goals in the final, clinching their spot as the OFC representative in the Olympics.
Despite their dominance within the confederation, New Zealand has faced challenges on the global stage, with only two wins in their 13 Olympic matches. However, their recent performance at the home World Cup, where they secured their first-ever win in the tournament, has bolstered their confidence.
Head coach Jitka Klimková highlighted the team's focus on improving their attacking play during the qualification tournament, resulting in an impressive tally of 32 goals. As they prepare to face tougher opponents in the Olympics, New Zealand aims to combine their attacking flair with defensive solidity to make a mark in the upcoming campaign.
