Vanuatu national football team

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Vanuatu
Shirt badge/Association crest
Association Vanuatu Football Federation
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
Head coach Saby Natonga
Captain Seimata Chilia
Top scorer Richard Iwai (19)[1]
Home stadium Korman Stadium
FIFA code VAN
FIFA ranking 173
Highest FIFA ranking 131 (October 2007)
Lowest FIFA ranking 188 (April 2000)
Elo ranking 134
Highest Elo ranking 129 (2 June 2004)
Lowest Elo ranking 183 (November 1993)
Home colours
Away colours
First international
 New Zealand 9-0 New Hebrides New Hebrides
(Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)[1]
Biggest win
Vanuatu Vanuatu 18-0 Kiribati 
(Lautoka, Fiji; 7 July 2003)
Biggest defeat
 New Zealand 9-0 New Hebrides New Hebrides
(Nouméa, New Caledonia; September 1951)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances 7 (First in 1973)
Best result Fourth place, 1973, 2000, 2002, 2008

The Vanuatu national football team is the national team of Vanuatu and is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation.

Contents

[edit] History

It was known as the New Hebrides national football team until the New Hebrides became Republic of Vanuatu in 1980. It finished fourth in the OFC Nations Cup in 1973, 2000, and 2002. In the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup, Vanuatu beat New Zealand 4-2, preventing the regional powerhouse from making the final and, consequently, the running for the 2006 World Cup.

Vanuatu caused another shock in the 2007 South Pacific Games by knocking out the Solomon Islands for bronze medal and also enable to enter the second stage of qualification for the OFC nation Cup and consequently a chance with a playoff for the FIFA world cup in South Africa 2010. The last time they had won against Solomon Islands was back in 1998 and had since been on the receiving side of many losses save for one draw against them. In July 2008, Vanuatu faced two national teams from the Solomon Islands during the inaugural edition of the Wantok Cup. Vanuatu lost 1-2 to the Solomons' team A, but defeated their team B by two goals to one.

[edit] World Cup record

[edit] Oceania Nations Cup record

OFC Nations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1973 Semi-final 4th 5 1 1 3 5 10
1980 Group stage 7th 3 0 0 3 6 9
1996 Did not qualify
1998 Group stage 5th 2 0 0 2 2 13
2000 Semi-final 4th 4 1 0 3 5 8
2002 Semi-final 4th 5 2 0 3 2 6
2004 First round 6th 5 1 0 4 5 9
2008 Semi-final 4th 6 1 1 4 5 13
Total 8/9 30 6 2 22 30 69

[edit] South Pacific Games record

[edit] Wantok Cup record

  • 2008 - Second place


[edit] Solitary win in OFC history

At the second stage of the qualification tournament, Vanuatu came 6th place at the bottom of the table, but managed a win against regional powerhouses New Zealand which denied them a place in the final stages of OFC Nation Cup and the chance for a place in both the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and Continental & Intercontinental playoffs for the 2006 World Cup Finals. Vanuatu's win created the first time opportunity for one of the Island Nations to contest the Third Stage which had previously been contested only by Australia and New Zealand. Australia went on to beat Solomon Islands in a two leg contest and qualified for the World Cup finals.

[edit] List Of Coaches

[edit] New Hebrides (-1980)

  • P. Reichert (1973)

[edit] Vanuatu (1980-)

  • Vanuatu Saby Natonga (1996)
  • Alwyn Job (1998)
  • Uruguay Juan Carlos Buzzetti (2000-2004)
  • England Joe Szekeres (2004-?)
  • Vanuatu Willian Mallas[2]
  • Vanuatu Saby Natonga (2011)

[edit] Current Squad

Goalkeepers:

Ernest Bong (Amicale)

Joel Kapen (Amicale)

Selonie Iaruel (Academy)

Defenders:

Alphonse Bongnaim (Amicale)

Selwyn Sese Aala (Amicale)

Andrew Chichirua (Tafea)

Meren Tamba (Siaraga FC Santo)

Filiamy Nikiau (Spirit 08)

Rexley Tarivuti (Spirit 08)

Mike Nakapue (Tanna)

Tari Rickson (Spirit 08)

Brian Kaltak (New Zealand)

Midfielders:

Jean Robert Yelou (Amicale)

Seimata Chilia (Amicale)

Michel Kaltack (Tafea)

Kempes Vaharu (Pango Green Bird)

William Winston (Malekula)

Stephen Eddison (Academy)

Richard Garae (Amicale)

Strikers:

Kensi Tangis (Milo FC Santo)

Robert Tasso (Spirit 08)

Jean Kaltak (Academy)

Yvong August (Academy)

Michel Daniel (Shepherds United)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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