February 16 – The New Zealand Ferns are one match away from clinching a ticket for the Olympic Women’s Football Tournament in Paris after they eliminated Fiji to set up an OFC qualifying final against the Solomon Islands.
A flurry of late goals sealed New Zealand’s comprehensive 7-1 victory over Fiji. A hat-trick from Grace Jale as well as braces each from Jacqueline Hand and the outstanding Indiah-Paige Riley ensured the mammoth victory and a final against the Solomon Islands with a ticket to Paris at stake.
They had previously defeated Vanuatu 5-0 to advance to the last-four stage.
New Zealand’s women’s national team first qualified for the Olympic football tournament in 2008 and qualification for Paris would seal their fifth consecutive participation. They have never progressed from the group stages, except in 2012 in London when they reached the quarter-finals.
The Olympic women’s football tournament will take place from Thursday, July 25 to Saturday, August 10, the women’s final for the first time wrapping up the sport at the Olympic Games.
Hosts France, Brazil, Colombia, the United States and defending champions Canada have already qualified for the tournament.
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