OFC Champions League 2022

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-competitions-schedule-update-for-2022/

The revamped OFC Champions League 2022 will involve 18 teams through the qualifying stage, which will be made up of a qualifying tournament and separate national playoffs.  

The national league winner from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga will contest a centralised qualifying tournament at a yet to be decided venue, with the winner joining the seven national playoff winners from the remaining Member Associations in the finals of the OFC Champions League 2022. 

The national playoffs will see the top two nominated teams from Fiji, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea play each other in a winner-takes-all match staged in their own country, with the winner advancing to the finals.  

“The new format for the OFC Champions League 2022 keeps travel around the region to a minimum, while at the same time still giving the leading clubs from our Member Associations a fair chance to play against the best of their peers.”  

coochiee

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc-competitions-schedule-update-for-2022/

The revamped OFC Champions League 2022 will involve 18 teams through the qualifying stage, which will be made up of a qualifying tournament and separate national playoffs.  

The national league winner from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga will contest a centralised qualifying tournament at a yet to be decided venue, with the winner joining the seven national playoff winners from the remaining Member Associations in the finals of the OFC Champions League 2022. 

The national playoffs will see the top two nominated teams from Fiji, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea play each other in a winner-takes-all match staged in their own country, with the winner advancing to the finals.  

“The new format for the OFC Champions League 2022 keeps travel around the region to a minimum, while at the same time still giving the leading clubs from our Member Associations a fair chance to play against the best of their peers.”  

"Fair" is just about the last word I'd use to describe the new format hahaha.

Not very fair for the nation which has won 9 out of the last 10 titles to only get one club team in the quarterfinals is it? Mind you OFC CL has been cooked for years. 

blast from the past to motivate whichever team gets there!

I see from the OFC website that the NZ entrant to the 8 team comp will be Auckland City .
Did the playoff happen without us knowing it ?
Be interested in NZ Footballs rationale here.
Olympic , CashTech and Miramar could have just as much right to that place ?
Maybe all the above declined. 2 weeks in the islands might be a step too far for clubs that have a much lower profile these days and much less access to funding for an expedition of that size.
Auckland City probably have the resources for that exercise.
The outcome will be interesting. with the dilution of talent in NZ domestic football the days of an almost guaranteed NZ winner of the OCL are over and with it the financial windfall

Maybe yes NZF consulted the clubs, and if Stage Two is like a 2 week tourney somewhere in the Islands, and they decided Auckland City with it's semi pro brigade, is the best equipped to win, and bring the CWC appearance money back to all the clubs??

Then presumably from 2023 onwards the OFC Champions League returns to a normalish format, with H&A knockout ties, as it mostly was pre Covid?? So the top 2 NZ clubs in 2022 get a crack at it?? Of course if Infantino gets his way the CWC will switch to a 32 club, 4 yearly setup anyway or similar.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/next-stage-unveiled-in-battle-for-oceania-club-supremacy/

June will see the return of Oceania’s flagship club football competition, the OFC Champions League, which will decide who represents the region at the 2022 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup™.

The revised competition format, which was adapted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce travel requirements on teams, is split into two phases.

Stage one will determine which clubs contest stage two, which will be an eight-team centralised finals tournament scheduled for August this year.

New Zealand Football has already selected Auckland City FC as their representative for the finals tournament.

chubbs

I see from the OFC website that the NZ entrant to the 8 team comp will be Auckland City .
Did the playoff happen without us knowing it ?
Be interested in NZ Footballs rationale here.
Olympic , CashTech and Miramar could have just as much right to that place ?
Maybe all the above declined. 2 weeks in the islands might be a step too far for clubs that have a much lower profile these days and much less access to funding for an expedition of that size.
Auckland City probably have the resources for that exercise.
The outcome will be interesting. with the dilution of talent in NZ domestic football the days of an almost guaranteed NZ winner of the OCL are over and with it the financial windfall

How could Miramar, Olympic and Cashtech have just as much right? They played in a makeshift one off competition that was made very clear from the outset would have no impact on OCL qualification. 
The only team that could maybe make an argument is Team Welly and they don’t exist anymore. The sensible and pragmatic decision has been made. 

So if Miramar had have renamed themselves Team Wellington then they would have had a rightful claim.

It’s a freebie from NZ football to Auckland City. They should have done a play off with all teams that wanted the opportunity.

And with the comment around the clubs not being able to afford it they would have all said yes given the opportunity. 

Welly79

chubbs

I see from the OFC website that the NZ entrant to the 8 team comp will be Auckland City .
Did the playoff happen without us knowing it ?
Be interested in NZ Footballs rationale here.
Olympic , CashTech and Miramar could have just as much right to that place ?
Maybe all the above declined. 2 weeks in the islands might be a step too far for clubs that have a much lower profile these days and much less access to funding for an expedition of that size.
Auckland City probably have the resources for that exercise.
The outcome will be interesting. with the dilution of talent in NZ domestic football the days of an almost guaranteed NZ winner of the OCL are over and with it the financial windfall

How could Miramar, Olympic and Cashtech have just as much right? They played in a makeshift one off competition that was made very clear from the outset would have no impact on OCL qualification. 
The only team that could maybe make an argument is Team Welly and they don’t exist anymore. The sensible and pragmatic decision has been made. 

So the group stage draw will be held in Auckland on Thursday. 

It turns out the basis for Auckland City's nomination was as Regular Season winners in the final ISPS Handa Premiership. So if Team Welly still existed I guess the playoff would have occurred. 

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/draw-date-confirmed-for-ofc-champions-league-2022-group-stage/

The final eight teams vying for Oceania club football supremacy will soon learn their OFC Champions League 2022 group stage opposition through a draw confirmed for Thursday, June 30.

Following the conclusion of the OFC Champions League National Playoffs on Saturday, June 25, the eight teams participating have now been confirmed.

Fiji’s Rewa FC, Papua New Guinea’s Lae City FC, Solomon Islands’ Central Coast FC, Tahiti’s AS Vénus and Vanuatu’s Galaxy FC all qualified via the National Playoff route, as did the most recent OFC Champions League winners, 2019 champions Hienghène Sport of New Caledonia.

Nikao Sokattak FC from the Cook Islands have been nominated to attend the finals tournament based on sporting merit, after ongoing travel restrictions and logistical challenges forced the cancellation of the OFC Champions League 2022 Qualifying Stage.

Auckland City FC round out the eight teams participating. The nine-time winners have been nominated by their respective MA to represent New Zealand as 2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship regular season winners.

Group A: 
1. Galaxy FC (Vanuatu)
2. Lae City FC (PNG)
3. AS Venus (Tahiti)
4. Central Coast FC (Solomon Islands)

Group B: 
1. Auckland City (NZ)
2. Hienghene Sport (New Caledonia)
3. Rewa FC (Fiji)
4. Nikao Sokkatak (Cook Islands) 

Looks like the opener will be ACFC vs Hienghene Hosts vs Defending Champions. 

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/venue-and-match-details-confirmed-for-oceania-champions-league-2022/

The Oceania Football Confederation has today confirmed the venue, match dates and kick-off times for the Oceania Champions League 2022, which will be staged in Auckland this August.  

All matches will be held at Ngahue Reserve, at the OFC Home of Football, in Stonefields, Auckland. 

coochiee

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/venue-and-match-details-confirmed-for-oceania-champions-league-2022/

The Oceania Football Confederation has today confirmed the venue, match dates and kick-off times for the Oceania Champions League 2022, which will be staged in Auckland this August.  

All matches will be held at Ngahue Reserve, at the OFC Home of Football, in Stonefields, Auckland. 

Horrid venue choice in a part of Auckland that is difficult to get to for most people on a terrible artificial surface and with super ideal kick off times of Midday and 3:00pm mostly during the week. 

Which genius set the final for 2:30pm on a Wednesday they clearly want nobody to attend. 

You wouldn't have expected any more from OFC would you ?Totally incompetent confederation. Just another in a long list of bizaare decisions. They won't play games at night in NZ as it's too cold for the island nations , but quite happy to play games in the middle of the day in opressive heat/humidity in the Islands. I was looking forward to attending some of the games but it seems OFC doesn't want spectators.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/squads-announced-for-ofc-champions-league-2022/

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coochiee

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/squads-announced-for-ofc-champions-league-2022/

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Gave you a 'this' purely for the amount of tabs you've got open up the top there Coochiee. 🤯

Decent enough squad. Is it good enough to bring this home? Notable absence of Angus Kilkolly I see too. Injured? I see he came off early in the 5-3 win over birko, so must be a decent injury.

Given the past couple of years without it, and my general disdain for how the OFC is run, I've sort of checked out of the OFC Champions League loop. I see the format has changed again, but at least a NZ side drew a team from the Cook Islands - will be looking forward to seeing that cricket score.

Ooops that could have been an indiscrete glimpse into me vida. Luckily all the Soccerway ones pushed Only Fans off the screen shot.

FULL TIME | 5-0

That's all she wrote here at Ngahue Reserve as the #NavyBlues defeat reigning champions Hienghene Sport 5-0 in their @OFCfootball Champions League opener. #AUCHIE #OFCCL #StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/g9LTeggmcq

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) August 5, 2022

Thought I'd give it a watch on my days off. 

My thoughts on this one;
Could've been nearing double digits. Hienghene were awful. Even though Auckland took their foot of the throat for that final half hour and it became scrappier, they were still running rings around this mob.

Rewa on Monday, before rounding out the group against minnows Nikao next Thursday - that could well be a bloodbath in the making.

Although it's the weaker of the two groups, you already get the feeling it's going to take a massive effort and a lot of luck for another side to topple the Aucklanders.

The other teams in the group - Rewa v Nikao kicks off in a little under an hour.

This is actually so tinpot that you can’t even bet on it on bet365. 

YoungHe.\rt

FULL TIME | 5-0

That's all she wrote here at Ngahue Reserve as the #NavyBlues defeat reigning champions Hienghene Sport 5-0 in their @OFCfootball Champions League opener. #AUCHIE #OFCCL #StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/g9LTeggmcq

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) August 5, 2022

Thought I'd give it a watch on my days off. 

My thoughts on this one;
Could've been nearing double digits. Hienghene were awful. Even though Auckland took their foot of the throat for that final half hour and it became scrappier, they were still running rings around this mob.

Rewa on Monday, before rounding out the group against minnows Nikao next Thursday - that could well be a bloodbath in the making.

Although it's the weaker of the two groups, you already get the feeling it's going to take a massive effort and a lot of luck for another side to topple the Aucklanders.

The other teams in the group - Rewa v Nikao kicks off in a little under an hour.

 Was also at the game and my thoughts are similar to yours Hienghene were woeful it's hard to believe they are the reigning champions from 2019. Auckland City easily could have and should have had 8-10 goals today. From what I have seen so far this tournament with the exception of AS Venus I think they might win this tournament at a canter. 

YoungHe.\rt

FULL TIME | 5-0

That's all she wrote here at Ngahue Reserve as the #NavyBlues defeat reigning champions Hienghene Sport 5-0 in their @OFCfootball Champions League opener. #AUCHIE #OFCCL #StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/g9LTeggmcq

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) August 5, 2022

Thought I'd give it a watch on my days off. 

My thoughts on this one;
Could've been nearing double digits. Hienghene were awful. Even though Auckland took their foot of the throat for that final half hour and it became scrappier, they were still running rings around this mob.

Rewa on Monday, before rounding out the group against minnows Nikao next Thursday - that could well be a bloodbath in the making.

Although it's the weaker of the two groups, you already get the feeling it's going to take a massive effort and a lot of luck for another side to topple the Aucklanders.

The other teams in the group - Rewa v Nikao kicks off in a little under an hour.

Not surprising at all... I honestly just laughed when Albert Riera said they were the underdogs pre game!

lthomas20

YoungHe.\rt

FULL TIME | 5-0

That's all she wrote here at Ngahue Reserve as the #NavyBlues defeat reigning champions Hienghene Sport 5-0 in their @OFCfootball Champions League opener. #AUCHIE #OFCCL #StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/g9LTeggmcq

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) August 5, 2022

Thought I'd give it a watch on my days off. 

My thoughts on this one;
Could've been nearing double digits. Hienghene were awful. Even though Auckland took their foot of the throat for that final half hour and it became scrappier, they were still running rings around this mob.

Rewa on Monday, before rounding out the group against minnows Nikao next Thursday - that could well be a bloodbath in the making.

Although it's the weaker of the two groups, you already get the feeling it's going to take a massive effort and a lot of luck for another side to topple the Aucklanders.

The other teams in the group - Rewa v Nikao kicks off in a little under an hour.

Not surprising at all... I honestly just laughed when Albert Riera said they were the underdogs pre game!

I mean they're basically our answer to Man City and he is our answer to Pep. Both talk absolute fudgeing nonsense that even they don't believe half the time but it's all in the name of "mind games".

lthomas20

YoungHe.\rt

FULL TIME | 5-0

That's all she wrote here at Ngahue Reserve as the #NavyBlues defeat reigning champions Hienghene Sport 5-0 in their @OFCfootball Champions League opener. #AUCHIE #OFCCL #StrengthInUnity pic.twitter.com/g9LTeggmcq

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) August 5, 2022

Thought I'd give it a watch on my days off. 

My thoughts on this one;
Could've been nearing double digits. Hienghene were awful. Even though Auckland took their foot of the throat for that final half hour and it became scrappier, they were still running rings around this mob.

Rewa on Monday, before rounding out the group against minnows Nikao next Thursday - that could well be a bloodbath in the making.

Although it's the weaker of the two groups, you already get the feeling it's going to take a massive effort and a lot of luck for another side to topple the Aucklanders.

The other teams in the group - Rewa v Nikao kicks off in a little under an hour.

Not surprising at all... I honestly just laughed when Albert Riera said they were the underdogs pre game!

In fairness I think Riera was trying to be respectful noting that Hienghene are the defending champions. (Although they had been knocked out of the aborted 2020 tournament before it got cancelled) 

Game 2 vs Rewa not as convincing as the Hienghene game. 

Rewa probably had the better of early passages of play until Dylan Manickum was awarded a penalty after 25 minutes which Cam Howieson put away. 

Mario Ilich doubled the lead 10 minutes or so later a Brotherton header off a corner landed at his feet and he stabbed it home past the keeper from close range for 2-0. 

Second half was a bit boring with chances few and far between Auckland City got their third goal almost last kick of the game when a brilliant ball from Ryan De Vries found Emiliano Tade who finished superbly for a 3-0 win and a guaranteed semi final spot. 

Fairly meaningless game vs Nikao Sokkatak on Thursday City already through Nikao already out following their 1-0 loss to Hienghne today. 

Keen to see the Rewa vs Hienghene game which looks to be essentially a quarter final. 

FULL TIME | 1-4

The #NavyBlues secure a come from behind 4-1 win over Nikao Sokattak in their final OFC Champions League group stage game this afternoon. #NIKAUC #OCL2022 pic.twitter.com/qzWiPmGqbW

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) August 11, 2022

Full credit to Nikao. Thought it was going to be a walloping, but that is respectable. 👏

YoungHe.\rt

FULL TIME | 1-4

The #NavyBlues secure a come from behind 4-1 win over Nikao Sokattak in their final OFC Champions League group stage game this afternoon. #NIKAUC #OCL2022 pic.twitter.com/qzWiPmGqbW

— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) August 11, 2022

Full credit to Nikao. Thought it was going to be a walloping, but that is respectable. 👏

City were pretty sloppy today so many missed chances and coughing up possession at dumb times. Nikao were well worth being level at the half time break having scored first. 

The second half Auckland City were the better team and I thought the floodgates were open but I feel as if the group was already won  before they even kicked a ball today they took the foot off the gas a little.

Also another observation it's probably the first time since primary school football that the Auckland City players will have had opposition defenders and goalkeeper openly and loudly laughing at every miss. The Nikao team is certainly characterful. 

What is going to get the bigger crowd?

OCL Final: Auckland City v AS Venus 2pm at Ngahue
or 2.5 km down the road
Auckland Secondary School Girls Final: Baradene v St Kents 3pm at Michaels Ave
(my money would be on the girls if it was 5pm or 6pm kickoff!)

reubee

What is going to get the bigger crowd?

OCL Final: Auckland City v AS Venus 2pm at Ngahue
or 2.5 km down the road
Auckland Secondary School Girls Final: Baradene v St Kents 3pm at Michaels Ave
(my money would be on the girls if it was 5pm or 6pm kickoff!)

Genuinely could be the girls if the schools give students the chance to attend.

A final at 2pm on a workday ffs 🤦🏻‍♂️ 

Disregarding the crazy kick off time I don't know if there will be anyone there apart from the diehards.
Work in Penrose and its already miserable here
Only going to get worse this afternoon - heavy rain and wind.
Going to some great pictures streamed around the world LOL

It was a bit cold but I enjoyed the game. Pretty comfortable for Auckland City 3-0.
Need to get home and warmed up now.