The Tonga U-15 Development Boys’ squad wrapped up their OFC U-15 Development Tournament campaign in 4th place, following a close 2-1 loss to Tahiti in the 3rd and 4th place playoff held yesterday.
The tournament, aimed at fostering grassroots football development in the Oceania region, featured a round-robin pool format. Tonga was grouped with Samoa and Tahiti in their pool, where they opened with an impressive 2-1 win over Samoa in their first match. In their second group outing, they held a strong Tahiti side to a scoreless 0-0 draw.
With one win and one draw, Tonga finished level on points with Tahiti, but both trailed behind the Solomon Islands and Cook Islands, who topped their respective pools with two wins each, advancing to the final. Based on their pool results, Tahiti and Tonga were pitted against each other once more to determine 3rd and 4th place.
Despite Tonga’s spirited performance and a competitive display, it was Tahiti who found the edge in their second meeting. A well-contested match ended 2-1 in favor of the French Polynesian side, earning them the bronze while Tonga settled for 4th place.
The Tongan boys, however, will have one final opportunity to take to the pitch before heading home, with a friendly match scheduled for Wednesday. The team will then return to Tonga on Thursday, bringing back not just match experience but valuable lessons and exposure to international youth competition.
This tournament marks a crucial step in Tonga Football Association’s long-term development strategy, providing young talents with high-level competition and international experience to shape the future of Tongan football.
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