BY ROMULUS HUTA
SOLOMON Islands has been drawn in two tough groups for the Oceania Under-16 and the Under-19 qualifiers taking place respectively this year.
The draws were made at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Secretariat in Auckland, New Zealand last Friday afternoon.
The under-19 qualifiers will take place in Papeete, Tahiti from August 5 to 18.
Solomon Islands was drawn into Group B alongside all Melanesian rivals namely New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu.
In Group A are hosts Tahiti, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the winner of Qualifier.
The qualifier will be contested by Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and American Samoa.
In the under-16, Solomon Islands as hosts welcome Vanuatu, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in group A. Group B is made up of the teams representing Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti and the Qualifier winner. The qualifier will be contested by Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and American Samoa.
The championship in Honiara will be played from September 9 to 22.
The two Oceania youth championships serve qualification pathways toward next year’s Under-17 and Under-20 FIFA World Cups.
Oceania has been given two qualification spots for those two FIFA Youth World Cups.
