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Fiji have home advantage for this one with the game being played at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Fiji. The Solomon Islands have their work cut out anyway in what appears a tougher group than Group B but this is a really tough start for them.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 10th October, 2024 - UK – 8:00am / US ET – 3:00am / US PT - 12:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – FIFA+ / US – FIFA+
SOLOMON ISLANDS PREVIEW: BONITOS
The Solomon Islands, coached by Josh Smith, are currently ranked 144th in the world by FIFA but have been improving in recent years since the lowest ever ranking of 200th between January and March of 2016.
‘Bonitos’, as they are nicknamed come into this one on the back of a couple of friendlies during the September international break in which they were hammered by Hong Kong whilst also suffering a defeat to Fiji a few days prior.
FIJI PREVIEW: THE BULA BOYS
As mentioned, Fiji will really fancy their chances of progressing out of Group A and making the most of their home advantage. They most recently made the knockout stages of the OFC Nations Cup, eventually finishing fourth in that tournament behind Tahiti after the playoff.
Since then, they have, as mentioned, defeated the Solomon Islands by a goal to nil in a friendly at the ANZ Stadium in New Zealand before then also facing Hong Kong, where they shared a 1-1 draw with the Asian side.
SOLOMON ISLANDS TEAM NEWS: NO ISSUES
The Solomon Islands have a fully fit and available squad for their opening qualifier. Their play will mainly run through right winger and captain Micah Lea’alafa and fellow forward Raphael Lea’i of Adelaide City.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Mango; Stanton, Supa, Kofana; Ohasio, Tahioa, Komasi, Tahunipue; Lea’alafa, Lea’i, Nawo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
FIJI TEAM NEWS: RELIANCE ON ROY
The key man for Fiji is captain Roy Krishna but they do also have some other reasonable quality players such as Sairusi Nalaubu, Nabil Begg and goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Mateisuva; Baravilala, Tuivuna, Vasconcellos; Raheem, Joseph, Begg, Naidu; Waranaivalu; Krishna, Nalaubu
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SOLOMON ISLANDS VS FIJI PREDICTION
The Solomon Islands have some pedigree within their squad and have certainly improved. They will be eyeing up the intercontinental playoff spot that is on offer with the likely automatic qualifying spot going to New Zealand. Fiji, though, showed last month that they have the edge over their opponents and now, to go with that, have actual home advantage, too, so a slender Fiji victory is to be expected.
SOLOMON ISLANDS VS FIJI TIP: FIJI TO WIN