The Fiji Bula Boys Head Coach strongly criticized his team’s performance in the second half of their 1-1 draw against New Caledonia during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Qualifiers. The match, held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, marked the final Group A game for both teams.
The coach expressed disappointment, describing the second-half display as below par. He highlighted that the team failed to follow their strategies, particularly in the midfield. “The second half was rubbish,” he said, pointing out that players took too many touches in the midfield, did not deliver enough crosses, and failed to pressure their opponents by turning them around. These actions went against the team’s planned approach.
Fiji had taken the lead just before halftime when Roy Krishna scored a penalty in stoppage time. However, New Caledonia equalized in the second half as Fiji struggled to maintain their structure and execute their game plan effectively.
Despite the underwhelming performance, Fiji secured a spot in the semi-finals of the qualifiers by finishing second in Group A, behind New Caledonia, who claimed the top spot. Both teams will now focus on preparing for the next phase of the competition, which is scheduled to take place in New Zealand in March 2025.
Fiji will need to address their shortcomings and improve significantly as they gear up for their crucial semi-final match.