OFC Champions League 2023

Auckland City to play Wellington Olympic over 2 legs in their playoff, March 11th & 18th.

AC with a significant advantage almost being in season, having just returned from the CWC.

A classic OFC clownshow. 

So Auckland City finished higher in the National League, beat Wellington Olympic in the Grand Final, also beat them in the Chatham Cup semi, yet OFC in their infinite wisdom are making them have to play against them again. If you're only gonna have one representative from each nation in the group stage, why not just skip this bullshark stage and only send the domestic champions?

It's a shame because it actually robs both teams. 

Auckland City shouldn't have to beat Olympic again to reach the group stage. They've already done so three times and are our domestic champions. 

Wellington Olympic as one of our two qualifiers should get much more of a go than having to face the best team immediately, probably getting knocked out and not playing anyone else in OFC. 

lthomas20

It's a shame because it actually robs both teams. 

Auckland City shouldn't have to beat Olympic again to reach the group stage. They've already done so three times and are our domestic champions. 

Wellington Olympic as one of our two qualifiers should get much more of a go than having to face the best team immediately, probably getting knocked out and not playing anyone else in OFC. 

I think the changes to the OFC CL format, which came under the guise of saving costs since Covid, follow the similar theme we're seeing that the OFC competitions are evolving into more 'competitive' formats. The monopoly NZ teams have held since Australia left across club, youth and senior national teams is probably not really appreciated by the rest of OFC. Given the ten other members hold a supermajority they'll probably push for formats that will make it more difficult for NZ teams. One-off knockout matches outside NZ will always be a struggle and that's what we're likely to see more of going forward.
 
With the U17s and U19s we saw quarterfinals for the first time, forcing another knockout round, and the OFC CL are getting rid of the two qualifiers from the better countries, having already previously got rid of two-legged knockout games. Holding the CL tournament in one place also removes any home advantage - sure Auckland City got it last year, but they'll be a lot of times when they won't. After all, the last two away, one-off CL knockout matches NZ teams played were both defeats.

Absolutely awful. Another tactic to level the playing field and increase the chances of an upset

carlind

lthomas20

It's a shame because it actually robs both teams. 

Auckland City shouldn't have to beat Olympic again to reach the group stage. They've already done so three times and are our domestic champions. 

Wellington Olympic as one of our two qualifiers should get much more of a go than having to face the best team immediately, probably getting knocked out and not playing anyone else in OFC. 

I think the changes to the OFC CL format, which came under the guise of saving costs since Covid, follow the similar theme we're seeing that the OFC competitions are evolving into more 'competitive' formats. The monopoly NZ teams have held since Australia left across club, youth and senior national teams is probably not really appreciated by the rest of OFC. Given the ten other members hold a supermajority they'll probably push for formats that will make it more difficult for NZ teams. One-off knockout matches outside NZ will always be a struggle and that's what we're likely to see more of going forward.
 
With the U17s and U19s we saw quarterfinals for the first time, forcing another knockout round, and the OFC CL are getting rid of the two qualifiers from the better countries, having already previously got rid of two-legged knockout games. Holding the CL tournament in one place also removes any home advantage - sure Auckland City got it last year, but they'll be a lot of times when they won't. After all, the last two away, one-off CL knockout matches NZ teams played were both defeats.

Sure but a pathetic 8 team group stage cannot be called progress. OFC is going backwards, the island nations are going backwards compared to the rest of the world. 

It's also funny that it's been a way for a long time; 7 OFC nations get equal representation at the competition every year as us, despite the fact we've won 13 titles and they've won 2 between them. Literally every other confederation has a coefficient system and the very top ranked teams get an advantage. Not here. 

Can you imagine if Portugal and the Netherlands got 4 UEFA Champions League spots every year? That's what its like, and at least they've actually had clubs win it in the past as well...

With the CWC moving seemingly to a 4 yearly event (next one 2025 to start a cycle of avoiding World Cups & Euros) the OFC CL won’t mean much anyway, apart from I guess the one preceding the CWC

And with the CWC being expanded to 24 or 32 teams will OFC get more than one slot. Also OFC are to start a new pro league in a few years, will the winner of that get to represent OFC at the CWC? Bit happening

But yes a general theme of OFC nations trying to make it harder for NZ teams club and country

"But yes a general theme of OFC nations trying to make it harder for NZ teams club and country"
Which is a total farce! We should be leading the OFC not been ganged up upon by the other nations. Says something about how we are seen in OFC. Clearly its a bit of them and us scenario where the smaller nations are trying to make it tougher for us to get the "easy" win and funds that go with it.

theprof

"But yes a general theme of OFC nations trying to make it harder for NZ teams club and country"
Which is a total farce! We should be leading the OFC not been ganged up upon by the other nations. Says something about how we are seen in OFC. Clearly its a bit of them and us scenario where the smaller nations are trying to make it tougher for us to get the "easy" win and funds that go with it.

If you had 4 NZ teams in a 16 team Champions League (which respectfully, considering our past performance, would not even be extreme), it would be a great opportunity for island clubs to play NZ teams more often and get better at playing against us. It would also make it harder for Auckland City to establish a monopoly over it like they have before. But it seems the other feds aren't interested in having a high quality competition, rather a slanted one that gives them the best chance of a fluke win and subsequent prize money. 

lthomas20

theprof

"But yes a general theme of OFC nations trying to make it harder for NZ teams club and country"
Which is a total farce! We should be leading the OFC not been ganged up upon by the other nations. Says something about how we are seen in OFC. Clearly its a bit of them and us scenario where the smaller nations are trying to make it tougher for us to get the "easy" win and funds that go with it.

If you had 4 NZ teams in a 16 team Champions League (which respectfully, considering our past performance, would not even be extreme), it would be a great opportunity for island clubs to play NZ teams more often and get better at playing against us. It would also make it harder for Auckland City to establish a monopoly over it like they have before. But it seems the other feds aren't interested in having a high quality competition, rather a slanted one that gives them the best chance of a fluke win and subsequent prize money. 

And like Carlin said, the format change to add quarter finals in OFC international competition is another example of this. 80% of teams proceeding to knockouts is wild

Wonder what this new OFC professional league, would mean for the OFC Champions League, and OFC's spot at the CWC going foward?

Can see OFC giving the CWC qualifying spot to the winner of this new professional league. From a OFC pride viewpoint professional teams should perform better at the CWC, than the current 'amateur' teams like Auckland City. Would also increase the chances of non NZ teams going to the CWC you'd think, and the Island nations will love that.

If each of Fiji, Solomons, Tahiti, PNG, Vanuatu, New Caledonia had only say 2 fully pro teams (derbies galore!) in a 12 team pro league the talent is pretty condensed, plus the players will be get better into fully pro environments. So those clubs from each nation should be stronger than the clubs in their current domestic leagues - talent spread thin, and players amateur.

The new 4 yearly FIFA 32 team expanded CWC is due to kick off in 2025 (year between Euros & World Cup)

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-and-fifa-talk-ofc-professional-league/

coochiee

Wonder what this new OFC professional league, would mean for the OFC Champions League, and OFC's spot at the CWC going foward?

Can see OFC giving the CWC qualifying spot to the winner of this new professional league. From a OFC pride viewpoint professional teams should perform better at the CWC, than the current 'amateur' teams like Auckland City. Would also increase the chances of non NZ teams going to the CWC you'd think, and the Island nations will love that.

If each of Fiji, Solomons, Tahiti, PNG, Vanuatu, New Caledonia had only say 2 fully pro teams (derbies galore!) in a 12 team pro league the talent is pretty condensed, plus the players will be get better into fully pro environments. So those clubs from each nation should be stronger than the clubs in their current domestic leagues - talent spread thin, and players amateur.

The new 4 yearly FIFA 32 team expanded CWC is due to kick off in 2025 (year between Euros & World Cup)

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-and-fifa-talk-ofc-professional-league/

I'd be fascinated to know what money FIFA is pumping into this venture. Because there's no way it's viable on its own. 

Also provides a quandrum for NZ clubs - will they have to choose between this league and domestic Kiwi footy? Because that'd be quite the tossup, and a gamble to enter this league. 

The problem with the proposed OFC professional league is that the air transport networks aren't fully developed such that you can  plan away fixtures with any confidence. Look at what happened with the recent U20 tournament in Tahiti where visas weren't processed, flights were missed, and it was a week later before teams arrived because the next flight was in X days time.

OFC would either need to fund some extensive jet charters to move teams around the Pacific every weekend, or perhaps even base every team in Auckland and fly them to an island in the pacific for each fixture.  The Phoenix have some travel stories caused where there is 1 flight a day, bad weather and they are travelling a day later out of CHC or AKL etc.

OFC doing their best to try get a non NZ team to the CWC.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-champions-league-2023-draw-completed/

This year’s OFC Champions League will be held in Vanuatu in May, with games split between Port Vila and Luganville. It’ll be an exciting chance for Vanuatu to host a major OFC competition, it will be the first time the nation has held a full OFC Champions League.

OFC pre-determined that Ifira Black Bird will play their group matches in Port Vila and was therefore drawn automatically into Group B. The groups are as follows:

coochiee

OFC doing their best to try get a non NZ team to the CWC.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-champions-league-2023-draw-completed/

This year’s OFC Champions League will be held in Vanuatu in May, with games split between Port Vila and Luganville. It’ll be an exciting chance for Vanuatu to host a major OFC competition, it will be the first time the nation has held a full OFC Champions League.

OFC pre-determined that Ifira Black Bird will play their group matches in Port Vila and was therefore drawn automatically into Group B. The groups are as follows:

Olympic were probably lucky not to qualify on balance. Raising the $100-150k to travel in the space of a month would be a nightmare. 

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-champions-league-2023-tournament-preview-how-to-watch/

Auckland City FC will be chasing a record 11th OFC Champions League title as the flagship Oceania men’s club tournament kicks off in Vanuatu this weekend.  

The New Zealand club champions have been an almost unstoppable force over the years but will be wary of underestimating their Group A opponents Suva FC, Solomon Warriors and Lupe Ole Soaga SC, whom they face in Luganville over the next week. 

The defending champions suffered a major blow when their talisman Emilio Tade was ruled out of the tournament with a serious knee injury. The Argentine will be sidelined for the next 10 weeks.

🔵⚪️💙🇻🇺

Thank you for your hospitality #VanuatuFootballFederation & the people of Port Vila! #OFCChampsLeague #Vanuatu #NavyBlues pic.twitter.com/SoUZXIIQnP

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) May 11, 2023

OFC's 'elite' football comp at it's best.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/132104318/samoan-club-to-face-ofc-disciplinary-committee-after-pulling-out-of-auckland-city-game

coochiee

OFC's 'elite' football comp at it's best.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/132104318/samoan-club-to-face-ofc-disciplinary-committee-after-pulling-out-of-auckland-city-game

 what's the $ fine? (probably none)

Feverish

coochiee

OFC's 'elite' football comp at it's best.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/132104318/samoan-club-to-face-ofc-disciplinary-committee-after-pulling-out-of-auckland-city-game

 what's the $ fine? (probably none)

If there was a fine it would probably sink Lupe. They might take a pragmatic approach and leave them with a fine calculated against the cost of being in Vanuatu so they don’t come away with winnings for participation.

Ifira Blackbird up 2-1 over ACFC. Down to 10 men, bumper crowd. Worth a tune in https://www.oceaniafootball.com/livestream-ofc-champions-league-2023-semi-final-1-group-a-winner-vs-group-b-runner-up/

What an escape again from Auckland City... saw it at 92 minutes and 2-1 down. 

It'd be funny as heck if they lose but more seriously, it'd be another disaster for football in this country in a year of too many disasters already...

Going to penalties... Auckland City thought a late header went over the line but not given. 

Auckland City win 5-4 on pens and into the final... that was close. 

that could have been embarrassing.

Anyone able to find out how much Ifira Black Bird spend in a year?
I imagine its the cost of 1 'coaching' session with Howieson.

lthomas20

Going to penalties... Auckland City thought a late header went over the line but not given. 

Heck of a clearance pic.twitter.com/EuyDXZA0WP

— Dale (@WarbzFC) May 24, 2023

Final was an enjoyable watch for the neutral I thought.