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The OFC Nations Cup is an international association football tournament held among the OFC member nations. It was held every two years from 1996 to 2004; before 1996 there were two other tournaments held at irregular intervals, under the name Oceania Nations Cup. No competition was held in 2006, but in the 2008 edition, which also acted as a qualification tournament for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and for a play-off for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the New Zealand national football team emerged as winners.
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The Tahiti national football team represents French Polynesia and is controlled by the Fédération Tahitienne de Football. The team consists of a selection of players from French Polynesia, not just Tahiti, and has competed in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) since 1990.
The New Caledonia national football team is the national team of New Caledonia and is controlled by the Fédération Calédonienne de Football. Although they were only admitted to FIFA in 2004, they have been participating in the OFC Nations Cup since its inception. They have been one of this relatively small region's strongest teams, finishing second in 2008 and 2012, and third in 1973 and 1980. They were the top ranked OFC nation at number 95 in September 2008, making them only the fourth country from the confederation to have reached the global top 100.
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The Tahiti national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union team, representing the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. They first played in 1971 and have played numerous games to date, most against rivals Cook Islands and several against Niue. Other games have been played against Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. France played a match against Tahiti at the end of their 1979 tour and won 92–12. Plans to have annual "test" match series against Pacific island neighbours, New Caledonia have been put on hold, due to time, availability, finances, and coaching and refereeing resources. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Tahiti is administered by the Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française. Currently, players who have represented or played for the Tahiti national rugby team, are eligible to represent France. However, playing at a professional level can only enable this. At present there are several Tahitian professional rugby players abroad in France's Top 14 and Pro D2 professional competition.
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The OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup is the main championship for beach soccer in Oceania, contested between the senior men's national teams of the members of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). It is the sport's version of the better known OFC Nations Cup in association football.
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Rugby union in French Polynesia, particularly on the main island of Tahiti, is a popular team sport. Rugby union was first introduced by British, Kiwi and Australian sailors, and also through the French and the strong presence of the game amongst Pacific Nations. Top Tahitian clubs participate in the domestic club league, the Championnat de Tahiti. Clubs also competed in friendlies vs foreign club teams from neighboring nations as far across the Pacific to Chile.
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The 1980 OFC Nations Cup Final was an association football match that took place on 1 March 1980 at Noumea Stadium, Noumea. It was the final match of the 1980 OFC Nations Cup which was the second edition of the OFC Nations Cup, a competition for national teams in the Oceania Football Confederation.
The 1996 OFC Nations Cup Final was an association football match played over two-legs between Australia and Tahiti. It was the final match of the 1996 OFC Nations Cup which was the third edition of the OFC Nations Cup, a competition for national teams in the Oceania Football Confederation.
Steevy Chong Hue is a Tahitian footballer who plays as a striker. He last played for A.S. Tefana in the Tahitian First Division.
Eddy Etaeta is a football manager and former football player from Tahiti in French Polynesia. He is best known within Oceania for coaching Tahiti to their 2012 OFC Nations Cup title, and is known worldwide for coaching the team during their 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup campaign.
Naea Tommy Irving Bennett is a French Polynesian footballer, politician, and former Cabinet Minister. He plays as a striker for AS Pirae and also represents the Tahiti national beach soccer team. He is son of Erroll Bennett, a former Tahitian footballer who was runner-up at 1973 and 1980 OFC Nations Cup.
Raimana John Li Fung Kuee is a Tahitian footballer currently playing for A.S. Pirae, where he plays as a striker.
The 1998 OFC Nations Cup Final was an association football match that took place on the 4 September 1998 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. It was the final of the 1998 OFC Nations Cup which was the fourth edition of the OFC Nations Cup, a competition for national teams in the Oceania Football Confederation.
References
- Michael Otterson. "Erroll Bennett: Tahitian Soccer Star", Ensign , Oct. 1982.
- Meridian Magazine article with section on Bennett
- ↑ "IFFHS Century Elections". RSSSF . Archived from the original on 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ↑ "Oceanian Cup 1973". RSSSF . Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ↑ Article from Richard Vansam, in France Football, n°1.855, 27 october 1981, page 23.
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