Solomon Islands national football team

Solomon Islands

Nickname(s)	Bonitos
Association	Solomon Islands Football Federation
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Jacob Moli
Home stadium	Lawson Tama Stadium
FIFA code	SOL
FIFA ranking	182
Highest FIFA ranking	120 (October 2007, April 2008)
Lowest FIFA ranking	182 (April 2011, February 2012)
Elo ranking	122
Highest Elo ranking	99 (September 2004)
Lowest Elo ranking	167 (1988)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Solomons 6–3 New Hebrides (Fiji; 30 August 1963)
Biggest win
Solomons 17–0 Wallis and Futuna (Papua New Guinea; September 1991)
Biggest defeat
French Polynesia 18–0 Solomons (Fiji; 17 December 1963)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	5 (First in 1980)
Best result	Second; 2004

The Solomon Islands national football team is the national team of the Solomon Islands and is controlled by Solomon Islands Football Federation. The team shocked the (Oceanian) football world in the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup (which doubles as World Cup Qualifying), tying Australia 2–2 to nip heavily-favored New Zealand for second place and a spot in a championship playoff against Australia. Although they lost to the Socceroos 5-1 and 6-0, finishing second in the confederation is a remarkable achievement for the island nation.

The Solomons would get a second chance against the Socceroos in a two-legged series in September 2005, this time with the winner advancing to a two-legged series against CONMEBOL's fifth-place finisher for a berth in the 2006 World Cup, and lost 7-0 on the first leg and 2–1 in the 2nd played at home.

The Solomons were knocked out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup particularly as they were seen as the favourites to challenge New Zealand for the Oceanian qualifying slot. They got off to a good start winning every game in their qualifying group and comfortably progressing to the knockout rounds, but defeats to New Caledonia and then to Vanuatu saw them knocked out of the competition.

World Cup record

• 1930 to 1990 – Did not enter
• 1994 to 2010 – Did not qualify

Oceania Nations Cup record

OFC Nations Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973	Did not enter
1980	Group stage	8th	3	0	0	3	3	21
1996	Semi-final	3rd	2	0	0	1	1	3
1998	Did not qualify
2000	Semi-final	3rd	4	2	0	2	7	10
2002	Group stage	6th	3	0	1	2	3	9
2004	Final	2nd	7	3	1	3	10	17
2008	Did not qualify
Total		6/9	19	5	2	12	24	60

South Pacific Games record

• 1963 – Fourth place
• 1966 – Round 1
• 1969 – Sixth place
• 1971 – Did not enter
• 1975 – Third place
• 1979 – Third place
• 1983 – Round 1
• 1987 – Did not enter
• 1991 – Second place
• 1995 – Second place
• 2003 – Round 1
• 2007 – Fourth place
• 2011 – Second place

Wantok Cup record

• 2008 (July, 1st edition) - First place

Fixtures and Results

Main article: Solomon Islands national football team results

Date	Competition	Location	Opponent	Result	Scorers for Solomon Islands
7 July 2008	Wantok Cup	Honiara, Solomon Islands	Vanuatu	1-2	Lency Saeni

List of coaches

• Edward Ngara (1995–1996)
• Wilson Maelaua (1996)
• Alexander Napa (1998)
• George Cowie (2000–2003)
• Alan Gillett (2004–2005)
• Ayrton Andrioli (2006–2009)
• Jacob Moli (2010–)

External links

• Solomon Islands Football Federation official website