[Published on Friday, March 6, 2026]
BY TONY IROGA
Samoa ended their qualifying campaign on a high win with a 2-1 win over Solomon Islands in an entertaining contest on Thursday at the national stadium in Honiara.
Only pride was at stake for both sides, having already been eliminated from contention for the semi-finals, with Solomon Islands keen to produce a performance to lift the home-ground supporters.
Malia Jessop opened the scoring for Samoa with just over 10 minutes left in the first half, producing a fantastic left-footed effort into the far corner, having been found by a Shylah Balla-Ateli cutback.
Ileen Pegi almost levelled for Solomon Islands, forcing Meripa Seumanutafa into a good save, before Sandy Ani Holland did the same, with the Samoa stopper tipping her effort over the bar.
In an interview with Island Sun yesterday Samoa team captain Jaedeci Uluvili said they unfortunately didn’t make it to the semifinals, so the next upcoming tournament would be next year, the South Pacific Games.
“So hopefully we can prepare well and have more training camps before that happens, “she said.
She added that she definitely feels like if they had more preparation leading up to this tournament, because they only had a week’s camp in Auckland, and then they travelled here and had a couple of days to acclimatise to the weather and train together as a team.
“So definitely if they had more time prior to the tournament, it would have been better for them,” she said.
She also thanks their fans back home.
“Thank you for supporting us, it’s very much appreciated, and thank you for just following us through the tournament.
“It’s very hot, and I think the girls did well to adjust to the weather, considering we’ve come from all parts of the world,” she said.
The deserved equaliser duly arrived in the 63rd minute, Pegi looping in an effort having been teed up by Teisika Rotoava inside the area.
The parity lasted only a quarter of an hour, however. Samoa retaking the lead when Edith Nari stretched to head away a free-kick, only succeeding in lifting the ball over Margaret Kofela and into her own net.
Solomon Islands continued to create chances in the final minutes as they pressed for an equaliser, including rattling the crossbar, but Samoa’s defence was able to hold on and sign off from their campaign with three points.
Photo credit: Tony
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