- Vanuatu national football team
-
Vanuatu 
Association Vanuatu Football Federation Confederation OFC (Oceania) Head coach Saby Natonga Captain Seimata Chilia Top scorer Richard Iwai (19)[1] Home stadium Korman Stadium FIFA code VAN FIFA ranking 174 Highest FIFA ranking 131 (October 2007) Lowest FIFA ranking 188 (April 2000) Elo ranking 134 Highest Elo ranking 129 (2 June 2004) Lowest Elo ranking 183 (November 1993) 
Home coloursAway coloursFirst international 
New Zealand 9-0 New Hebrides 
(Nouméa, New Caledonia; 4 October 1951)[1]Biggest win 
Vanuatu 18-0 Kiribati 
(Lautoka, Fiji; 7 July 2003)Biggest defeat New Zealand 9-0 New Hebrides
(Nouméa, New Caledonia; September 1951)OFC Nations Cup Appearances 7 (First in 1973) Best result Fourth place, 1973, 2000, 2002, 2008 The Vanuatu national football team is the national team of Vanuatu and is controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation.
Contents
History
It was known as the New Hebrides national football team until the New Hebrides became Republic of Vanuatu in 1980. It finished fourth in the OFC Nations Cup in 1973, 2000, and 2002. In the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup, Vanuatu beat New Zealand 4-2, preventing the regional powerhouse from making the final and, consequently, the running for the 2006 World Cup.
Vanuatu caused another shock in the 2007 South Pacific Games by knocking out the Solomon Islands for bronze medal and also enable to enter the second stage of qualification for the OFC nation Cup and consequently a chance with a playoff for the FIFA world cup in South Africa 2010. The last time they had won against Solomon Islands was back in 1998 and had since been on the receiving side of many losses save for one draw against them. In July 2008, Vanuatu faced two national teams from the Solomon Islands during the inaugural edition of the Wantok Cup. Vanuatu lost 1-2 to the Solomons' team A, but defeated their team B by two goals to one.
World Cup record
Oceania Nations Cup record
OFC Nations Cup record Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA 1973 Semi-final 4th 5 1 1 3 5 10 1980 Group stage 7th 3 0 0 3 6 9 1996 Did not qualify 1998 Group stage 5th 2 0 0 2 2 13 2000 Semi-final 4th 4 1 0 3 5 8 2002 Semi-final 4th 5 2 0 3 2 6 2004 First round 6th 5 1 0 4 5 9 2008 Semi-final 4th 6 1 1 4 5 13 Total 8/9 30 6 2 22 30 69 South Pacific Games record
- 1963 - Round 1
- 1966 - Third place
- 1969 - Fifth place
- 1971 - Second place
- 1975 - Round 1
- 1979 - Quarter-final
- 1983 - Round 1
- 1987 - Fourth place
- 1991 - Fourth place
- 1995 - Fourth place
- 2003 - Third place
- 2007 - Third place
Wantok Cup record
- 2008 - Second place
Solitary win in OFC history
At the second stage of the qualification tournament, Vanuatu came 6th place at the bottom of the table, but managed a win against regional powerhouses New Zealand which denied them a place in the final stages of OFC Nation Cup and the chance for a place in both the 2005 Confederation Cup and Continental & Intercontinental playoffs for the 2006 World Cup Finals. Vanuatu's win created the first time opportunity for one of the Island Nations to contest the Third Stage which had previously been contested only by Australia and New Zealand. Australia went on to beat Solomon Islands in a two leg contest and qualified for the World Cup finals.
List Of Coaches
New Hebrides (-1980)
- P. Reichert (1973)
Vanuatu (1980-)
- Saby Natonga (1996)
- Alwyn Job (1998)
Carlos Buzzetti (2000-2004)
Joe Szekeres (2004-?)- Willian Mallas[2]
- Saby Natonga (2011)
Current Squad
Goalkeepers:
Ernest Bong (Amicale)
Joel Kapen (Amicale)
Selonie Iaruel (Academy)
Defenders:
Alphonse Bongnaim (Amicale)
Selwyn Sese Aala (Amicale)
Andrew Chichirua (Tafea)
Meren Tamba (Siaraga FC Santo)
Filiamy Nikiau (Spirit 08)
Rexly Tarivuti (Spirit 08)
Mike Nakapue (Tanna)
Tari Rickson (Spirit 08)
Brian Kaltak (New Zealand)
Midfielders:
Robert Yelou (Amicale)
Saimata Chilia (Amicale)
Michel Kaltak (Tafea)
Kempes Vaharu (Pango Green Bird)
William Winston (Malekula)
Stephen Eddison (Academy)
Richard Garae (Amicale)
Strikers:
Kensi Tangis (Milo FC Santo)
Robert Tasso (Spirit 08)
Jean Kaltak (Academy)
Yvong August (Academy)
Michel Daniel (Shepherds United)
References
- ^ Mamrud, Roberto; Stokkermans, Karel. "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals". RSSSF. http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/century.html. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- ^ Vanuatu at FIFA.Com
External links
- Vanuatu at the FIFA website.
- Vanuatu at the OFC website.
- VFF
- Vanuafoot - Vanuatu Football Federation Official site
- Vanuatu Football Federation Official Blog site
Vanuatu Football Federation National teams MenNational team · Olympic (U-23) · U-20 · U-17WomenLeague system MenDomestic cups MenVanuatu CupInternationalAwards Footballer of the Year · Top scorersLists All-time Table · Champions · Clubs · International footballers · Foreign players · VenuesMen's clubs · Women's clubs · Men's players · Women's players · Expatriate players · Managers · Referees · Venues · Seasons · Records International association football FIFA · World Cup · Confederations Cup · U-20 World Cup · U-17 World Cup · Olympics · Minor tournaments · World Rankings · Player of the Year · FIFA Ballon d'Or · Teams · Debuts · Competitions · Federations · Codes Asia 
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former: Australia (moved to the AFC in 2006)1 Associate member - Not a member of FIFA Categories:- Vanuatu national football team
- Oceanian national association football teams
- National sports teams of Vanuatu
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