The Solomon Islands national football team is gearing up for a high-stakes clash against Vanuatu in the opening match of Group A at the OFC Nations Cup 2024.
The anticipation is intense as both teams prepare to set the tone for the tournament, with the Solomon Islands looking to make a strong start against a formidable Vanuatu side on their home turf.
Solomon Islands’ head coach, Jacob Moli, acknowledged the challenge ahead, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation and strategy.
“We know that the confidence of the Vanuatu side is very high, especially on their home turf,” he said in a pre-match conference.
“The return of their international players, like Brian Kaltak, is something we must work hard on to contain.”
Since 2017 the Solomon Islands have kept a winning record against Vanuatu under former coach Felipe Vega-Arango.
“It will be a different picture altogether but we just need to get the players’ mindset prepared for that big match – a different environment we need to work on,” Moli stated.
He adds that these two group matches will be treated as a grand final.
The 2024 OFC Nations Cup is the first time the OFC pinnacle event. The match will kick off 3:00 pm (SI Time) at the VFF Fresh Water stadium in Port Vila.
-SIFF Media
