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November 14 2024, 19:35 · Alex Lawes
Updated: November 15 2024, 15:49

Fiji vs New Caledonia Preview: Team News & Prediction

Fiji vs New Caledonia Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Fiji and New Caledonia have started the second round of OFC qualification without a defeat in their opening two matches and both will sail through to the third round with a draw.

Kick-off date/time: Sunday 17th November, 2024: UK – 3:00am / Saturday 16th November, 2024 - US ET – 10:00pm / US PT – 7:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – FIFA+ / US – FIFA+

Fiji Preview: Unbeaten Fiji

Fiji started their campaign with a slender 1-0 defeat of the Solomon Islands thanks to an early winning goal from Roy Krishna, despite the Pacific islanders being down to ten men for a lot of the second-half of the match.

The other day, up against a poor Papua New Guinea side, Fiji went behind early on and even after equalising were 2-1 down at half-time. They equalised again, via the aforementioned Krishna, before quick-fire stoppage-time goals left it at three apiece in the end. 

New Caledonia Preview: New Caledonian dominance

In contrast to Fiji’s dramatic second match the other day, New Caledonia had some drama with that ended up in a victory against the Solomon Islands. After taking an early lead, they went 2-1 down before half-time.

However, the New Caledonians turned the game back on its head to come out as 3-2 winners in that game and that backed up a comfortable and impressive 3-1 defeat of Papua New Guinea last month. 

Fiji Team News: Krishna importance

Fiji have a fully fit and available squad for this one against New Caledonia in Papua New Guinea with a reliance on experienced and ageing captain Roy Krishna in attack.

PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Narayan; Vasconellos, Wara, Matanisiga, Baravilala; Waranaivalu; Begg, Jennings, Dunn, Hughes; Krishna

UNAVAILABLE: 

QUESTIONABLE: 

New Caledonia Team News: Some pedigree

New Caledonia have a bit of pedigree in their squad as they take on Fiji this month such as attackers Georges Gope-Fenepej and Cesar Lolohea. 

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ulile; Deplanque, Ranchain, Slmane, Athale; Jeno, Mathelon, Bako; Gope-Fenepej, Katrawa, Zeoula

UNAVAILABLE: 

QUESTIONABLE: 

Key Stats

  • Fiji have won three of the last four international matches between these two teams.
  • Fiji have lost only two of their last ten international matches (W6 D2 L2).
  • Roy Krishna has scored seven goals in his last seven competitive appearances for Fiji.
  • Fiji won the last World Cup qualifying match between these two teams (2-1 in the 2022 qualifiers). However, that was their first World Cup qualifying victory against New Caledonia, there were three draws and three defeats in the previous six encounters.
  • New Caledonia are aiming to win three successive World Cup qualifying matches for the first time since 2012.
  • New Caledonia have won four and drawn one of their last five international matches.
  • Joseph Athale has scored a total of three goals in New Caledonia’s previous two matches in the current World Cup qualifying campaign.

Fiji vs New Caledonia Prediction

The expectation before this international break would be that the low quality in Oceanian football would produce low-scoring encounters with a lack of cutting edge in the final third. However, Fiji and New Caledonia were both involved in high-scoring thrillers the other day. That said, with qualification for the next phase now on the line with Fiji needing just a point, a low-block from the Fijians is expected with a low-scoring encounter therefore now anticipated for this one. 

Fiji vs New Caledonia Tip: Under 2.5 goals