Paul Francis (footballer)

Last updated

Paul Francis
Personal information
Full name Paul Francis
Date of birth (2005-12-05) 5 December 2005 (age 19) [1]
Place of birth Solomon Islands
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
Nasinu [2]
Youth career
East Guadalcanal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020 East Guadalcanal [2] 4 (1)
2021 Henderson Eels
2022–2023 Waneagu United (11+)
2023Henderson Eels (loan)
2024–2025 Real Kakamora 20 (17)
2025 Central Coast 0 (0)
2025– Nasinu 10 (9)
International career
2022– Solomon Islands U20 7 (7)
2022 Solomon Islands U23 1 (0)
2024 Solomon Islands "B" 4 (1)
2024– Solomon Islands 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:18, 28 May 2025 (UTC)

Paul Francis (born 5 December 2005) is a Solomon Islands professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Fiji Premier League club Nasinu and the Solomon Islands national team. Known for his pace, dribbling skill, and goal-scoring ability, he is regarded as one of the best young players in Oceania. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Club career

Born in Guadalcanal Province, Francis began his career at local side East Guadalcanal Frigates and represented the team at the 2020 Guadalcanal Cup. [6] As a 14-year-old, he was named to the Guadalcanal provincial football team for the 2020 Solomon Cup, where he scored two goals. Francis's ability was noticed by Guadalcanal coach Eddie Marahare, who also served as the head coach for 2020–21 league champions Henderson Eels.

Aged 15, Francis made his senior debut for Eels in the 2021–22 season in a 4–1 win against Marist, in which he scored a brace. After the end of the season, Francis was then signed by Waneagu United. [7] In his first full season, Francis scored 11 goals with Waneagu as the team's top scorer. Francis temporarily returned to Eels to begin the 2023 season on loan, before being re-called by Waneagu at mid-season. He then joined Real Kakamora in 2024. [1]

Francis rose to international prominence in 2024, in which his goal-scoring exploits for S-League club Real Kakamora (which had famously lost all 22 of their matches the previous season) helped lead the team to a third-placed finish, their best in club history. [8] Almost immediately, Francis became a beloved cult hero among the club's supporters, and finished 3rd in scoring that season. After Kakamora's league license was controversially denied for the next season, he left in 2025 to sign a one-year contract with Central Coast. This deal was later voided and he joined Fiji Premier League club Nasinu instead. [2]

International career

Francis has represented the Solomon Islands U20 and U23 teams since 2022 during the OFC U-19 Championship and the 2023 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. [9] He also represented the Solomon Islands "B" national team during the 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup, scoring the team's only goal at the tournament during a 3–1 loss against Vanuatu. [10]

He was first called up to the Solomon Islands senior team for the 2023 Tri-Nations Series and was included on the bench during a 2–0 victory against Fiji on 20 March 2023. [11] [12] As a second-half substitute on 14 November 2024, Francis made his debut for Solomon Islands during a 3–2 loss against New Caledonia during 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. [13] [14] Francis's exclusion from the team's other two matches, including a 1–0 loss to 10-man Fiji, drew significant controversy from fans of Solomon football and led to calls for the sacking of national team head coach Josh Smith.

Career statistics

International

As of match played21 December 2024. [1]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Solomon Islands 202410
Total10
Solomon Islands "B" 202441
Total51
Scores and results listSolomon Islands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Francis goal. [1]
List of international goals scored by Paul Francis
No.TeamDateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
1. Solomon Islands "B"  Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg15 December 2024 Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands3Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 1–11–3 2024 MSG Prime Minister's Cup [10]

Honours

East Guadalcanal Frigates

Henderson Eels

Real Kakamora

Solomon Islands

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Paul Francis". National Football Teams.
  2. 1 2 3 "Paul FRANCIS". Fiji Football. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  3. Saltori, Rafael (26 June 2024). "Real Kakamora's Paul Francis the star player as Solomon Islands unveil squad for U19 OFC Men's Championship". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  4. Saltori, Rafael (10 July 2024). "Real Kakamora duo shine in Solomon Islands' U19 OFC Men's Championship campaign". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  5. Saltori, Rafael (18 July 2024). "Paul Francis shines with Hattrick as Solomon Islands secure third place at OFC U-19 Championship". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Zoleveke II, Peter (10 November 2020). "Frigates soar in G-Cup 2020". The Island Sun. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  7. "Waneagu FC releases TSL squad". Solomon Star News. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Solomon Islands 2024". RSSSF.
  9. Saltori, Rafael (17 July 2024). "Paul Francis shines with Hattrick as Solomon Islands secure third place at OFC U-19 Championship". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Vanuatu vs. Solomon Islands (B) 2024-12-15". National Football Teams.
  11. "Solomon Islands national team (Tri-Nations March, 2023)". Oceania Football Center. March 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  12. "2023 Tri-Nations Series". Fiji Live. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  13. "Solomon Islands vs New Caledonia". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  14. "Solomon Islands vs New Caledonia". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  15. "Solomons lift tri-nations football series with win over Fiji". RNZ. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2025.