PNGFA bids to host Cup

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE Papua New Guinea Football Association says it has submitted an expression of interest to host next year’s Oceania Football Confederation Women’s Nations Cup, a qualifier for the 2023 World Cup.
Association general secretary Pius Letenge told The National on Tuesday that they were awaiting a response from the confederation.
He said apart from Vanuatu, PNG had the facilities to the hold the tournament with Australia and New Zealand already securing automatic qualification as World Cup hosts.
“We indicated our interest when the bidding opened,” the general secretary said.
“We are now awaiting a response on the hosting rights.
“The Nations Cup was scheduled for January and February, but the confederation had pushed the dates to June and July due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Due to international travel restrictions, most of the confederation affiliate countries will not be able to host the Nations Cup, so we are hopeful.
“We want to host the qualifier and we have an advantage, but the threat of the Covid-19 Delta variant will be a challenge for the association.”
New Zealand’s automatic qualification gives PNG a golden opportunity to qualify for the World Cup as the national team has always been second to the Football Ferns in the region.
But PNG would have to be wary of fellow Pacific Island nations, given Fiji had recorded an upset win against the team in the last Nations Cup.
Meanwhile, no updates have been made by the association regarding the national women’s team following the announcement of an 80-man train-on squad in May.