New Caledonia national football team

New Caledonia
Nickname(s)	Les Cagous (The Kagus)
Association	Fédération Calédonienne de Football
Confederation	OFC (Oceania)
Head coach	Johann Sidaner
Captain	Emile Béaruné
Most caps	Bertrand Kaï (43)
Top scorer	Bertrand Kaï (23)
Home stadium	Stade Numa-Daly Magenta
FIFA code	NCL
FIFA ranking
Current	159 1 (21 December 2023)
Highest	93 (August 2013)
Lowest	191 (April–May 2016)
First international
	New Caledonia 2–0 New Zealand ; (Nouméa, New Caledonia; 19 September 1951)
Biggest win
	New Caledonia 18–0 Guam ; (Lae, Papua New Guinea; 3 September 1991) ; Micronesia 0–18 New Caledonia ; (Suva, Fiji; 1 July 2003)
Biggest defeat
	Australia 11–0 New Caledonia ; (Auckland, New Zealand; 8 July 2002)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances	6 (first in 1973)
Best result	Runners-up, 2008 and 2012

The New Caledonia men's 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,^[2] making them only the fourth country from the confederation to have reached the global top 100.

History

The New Caledonian Football Federation, although created in 1928,^[3] did not join FIFA or the OFC until 2004, becoming the 205th member of the former.

Previously the New Caledonian selection, due to the attachment of local institutions to the French Football Federation, could only line up during friendly matches or regional competitions, such as the Pacific Games, as well as the Oceania Football Cup, but only as a guest.

The Cagous distinguished themselves during these competitions, winning the Pacific Games on several occasions, and finishing in third place, during the first two editions of the OFC Nations Cup.

After failing to qualify for the 2004 OFC Nations Cup, the New Caledonian Football Federation hired Didier Chambaron as the team's new coach. During the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia, the Cagous were placed in group A and won over their great rival Tahiti (1–0), this meeting was the first of the playoffs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They then won against Tuvalu and the Cook Islands (1–0) and (3–0). For their last group match, they draw against Fiji (1–1). The New Caledonians finished second in their group, and then beat the Solomon Islands (3–2), then in the final won the trophy against Fiji (1–0).

The Pacific Games football tournament serving as the first qualifying round for the World Cup in South Africa, the team found themselves qualified for the second round, where New Zealand blocked their way by taking first place. The Cagous however finish second in front of Fiji and Vanuatu.

In May 2011, the selection faced Reunion twice in Nouméa, matches counting for the preparation of the games of the islands of the Indian Ocean in the Seychelles of the Reunionese. The New Caledonians lost both matches. However, a few months later, during the 2011 Pacific Games, New Caledonia won in the final against the Solomon Islands, with the score of (2–0), after a victory against Tahiti (3–1).

In June 2012, on the occasion of the Oceania Nations Cup, the Cagous succeeded in beating New Zealand in the semi-finals, with a score of 2–0 (goals from Bertrand Kai and Georges Gope-Fenepej), but failed in the final against their Tahitian rivals (1–0). Nevertheless, the competition serving as a second qualifying round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, New Caledonia found itself, along with Tahiti and the semi-finalists New Zealand and the Solomon Islands qualified for the next round.

Rivalries

A historical sporting rivalry exists between the two French Pacific overseas collectivities, New Caledonia and Tahiti. They compete regularly in regional and, since 2006, international competitions. In 2012, Tahiti led the number of titles won (1 Oceania Nations Cup, 5 gold medals at the South Pacific Games, 2 at the South Pacific mini-games, against 6 gold at the South Pacific Games for New Caledonia). As of their last match in 2018, out of the 62 matches played since 1953, the New Caledonia has 28 wins against 25 for Tahiti and 9 draws.^[4]

Kit

Givova are the current kit provider for the national team since 2022. As of 2012, the national team's home kit is a grey jersey with red shorts and red socks. The away kit is a red jersey with red shorts and white socks.

Kit supplier	Period
Puma	2004–2006^[5]
Nike	2010–2012
Erreà	2013–2017
Kappa	2017–2019
Select	2020–2021
Givova	2022–

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2023

20 March Friendly Match	Tahiti	0–2	New Caledonia	Pirae, Tahiti
20:00 UTC−10		Report	Xowi 69' Rokuad 88'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

24 March Friendly Match	Tahiti	2–1	New Caledonia	Pirae, Tahiti
	Tinirauarii 30', 76'	Report	Xowi 33'	Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui

8 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup	New Caledonia	4–0	Vanuatu	Nouméa, New Caledonia
17:00 UTC+11:00				Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta

11 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup	Papua New Guinea	1–3	New Caledonia	Koné, New Caledonia
16:00 UTC+11:00				Stadium: Stade Yoshida

14 October 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup	Solomon Islands	1–0	New Caledonia	Nouméa, New Caledonia
17:00 UTC+11:00				Stadium: Stade Numa-Daly Magenta

18 November 2023 Pacific Games GS	New Caledonia	7–0	Tonga	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00	Waya 2', 56', 62' Vakié 5' Zeoula 16' Wélépane 24' Katrawa 26'	Report		Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

24 November 2023 Pacific Games GS	Cook Islands	0–8	New Caledonia	Honiara, Solomon Islands
16:00		Report	Zeoula 7', 13' Xowi 64' Waya 75', 78', 81' Katrawa 82', 90+5'	Stadium: SIFF Academy Field Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)

28 November 2023 Pacific Games Semi-final	New Caledonia	1–0	Vanuatu	Honiara, Solomon Islands
12:00	Xowi 45+3'	Report		Stadium: Lawson Tama Stadium Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh (New Zealand)

2 December 2023 Pacific Games Final	New Caledonia	2–2 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p)	Solomon Islands	Honiara, Solomon Islands
10:00	Waya 7' Wélépane 45+4'	Report	Orobulu 32', 72'	Stadium: National Stadium Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
	Penalties
	Ranchain Bako Richard Waya Zeoula Iwa Waia Vakié		Lea'alafa Supa Kaua Ohasio Lea'i Peter Kofana Orobulu

Coaching history

Guy Elmour (1971–1973)
Jules Hmeune (1977)
Rudi Gutendorf (1981)
Jacques Zimako (1995)
Michel Clarque (2002)
Serge Martinengo de Novack (2002–2004)
Didier Chambaron (2007–2010)
Christophe Coursimault (2010–2012)
Alain Moizan (2012–2015)
Thierry Sardo (2015–2021)
Dominique Wacalie (2021–2022)
Johann Sidaner (2022–)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Pacific Games.^[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 23 March 2023, after the match against Tahiti.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Rocky Nyikeine	(1992-05-26) 26 May 1992	23	0	Hienghène Sport
16	1GK	Mickaël Ulile	(1997-07-16) 16 July 1997	11	0	Magenta

2	2DF	Gabriel Vakoume	(1989-02-09) 9 February 1989	3	0	Kunié
3	2DF	William Rokaud	(2001-10-03) 3 October 2001	3	1	Magenta
4	2DF	Vincent Vakié	(1990-10-20) 20 October 1990	4	0	Kunié
6	2DF	Martin Makam	(2001-09-15) 15 September 2001	2	0	Magenta
13	2DF	Josué Wélépane	(2000-04-19) 19 April 2000	1	0	Tiga Sport
23	2DF	Gianni Manmieu	(1994-08-03) 3 August 1994	2	0	Kunié

5	3MF	Fonzy Ranchain	(1994-07-22) 22 July 1994	2	0	Hienghène Sport
7	3MF	Morgan Mathelon	(1991-09-12) 12 September 1991	7	0	Tiga Sport
8	3MF	Pierre Bako	(2001-08-09) 9 August 2001	6	1	Gaïtcha
10	3MF	William Read	(2003-01-11) 11 January 2003	3	1	Lössi
11	3MF	César Zeoula	(1989-08-29) 29 August 1989	35	10	US Chauvigny
12	3MF	Shene Wélépane	(1997-12-09) 9 December 1997	13	4	Tiga Sport
15	3MF	Gérard Waia	(2004-12-22) 22 December 2004	1	1	Tiga Sport
17	3MF	Jean-Jacques Katrawa	(1999-08-02) 2 August 1999	3	0	Gaïtcha
18	3MF	Ritchi Iwa	(1999-08-31) 31 August 1999	3	0	Païta
20	3MF	Makalu Xowi	(1999-04-20) 20 April 1999	4	3	Central Sport
21	3MF	Robert Neoere	(1996-04-18) 18 April 1996	3	0	Kunié

9	4FW	Lues Waya	(2001-08-01) 1 August 2001	1	0	USSA Vertou
14	4FW	Titouan Richard	(2000-12-04) 4 December 2000	1	0	Olympique Salaise Rhodia

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the New Caledonia squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Wareen Hlupa	(2004-04-16) 16 April 2004	1	0	Lössi	2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
GK	Jean-Gilles Hnamuko	(1996-03-02) 2 March 1996	3	0	Alisontia Steinsel	v. Tahiti; 23 March 2023

DF	Bernard Iwa	(2000-05-16) 16 May 2000	4	0	Qanono Sport	2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
DF	Jules Omei	(2001-07-14) 14 July 2001	3	0	Mont-Dore	2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup
DF	Sake Forest	(2003-08-13) 13 August 2003	2	0	Tiga Sport	v. Tahiti; 23 March 2023
DF	Josuah Hlemu	(2000-12-07) 7 December 2000	1	0	Auteuil	v. Tahiti; 23 March 2023

MF	Cyril Nypie	(2000-04-11) 11 April 2000	6	0	Tiga Sport	v. Tahiti; 23 March 2023
MF	David Bearune	(1994-06-17) 17 June 1994	3	0	Tiga Sport	v. Tahiti; 23 March 2023
MF	William Read	(2003-01-11) 11 January 2003	2	0	Lössi	v. Tahiti; 23 March 2023

FW	Gilbert Kugogne	(2004-05-04) 4 May 2004	1	0	Magenta	v. Tahiti; 23 March 2023

Player records

As of 28 November 2023^[7]

Players in bold are still active with New Caledonia.

Most appearances

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Bertrand Kaï	43	23	2008–2022
2	Emile Béaruné	42	0	2010–present
3	Joël Wakanumuné	39	1	2011–2022
3	Pierre Wajoka	39	13	2003–2011
5	César Zeoula	38	13	2008–present
6	Iamel Kabeu	34	20	2002–2013
7	Roy Kayara	31	8	2008–2019
8	Michel Hmaé	28	22	2003–2011
9	André Sinédo	27	1	2002–2011
10	Rocky Nyikeine	26	0	2011–present

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Bertrand Kaï	23	43	0.53	2008–2022
2	Michel Hmaé	22	28	0.79	2003–2011
3	Iamel Kabeu	20	34	0.59	2002–2013
4	Georges Gope-Fenepej	15	21	0.71	2011–2022
5	Pierre Wajoka	13	39	0.33	2003–2011
5	César Zeoula	13	38	0.34	2008–present
7	Jean-Philippe Saïko	12	9	1.33	2016–present
8	Joris Pibke	11	5	2.2	2000–2002
9	Paul Poatinda	10	10	1	2003–2004
10	Jacques Haeko	9	13	0.69	2011–2012

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 2002	Ineligible								Ineligible
2006	Did not qualify								4	2	1	1	16	2
2010									12	7	3	2	22	13
2014									5	3	0	2	19	7
2018									4	1	2	1	9	3
2022									3	0	0	3	2	10
2026	To be determined								To be determined
2030
2034
2038
Total		0/26	–	–	–	–	–	–	28	13	6	9	69	35

FIFA World Cup qualification History
Year	Round	H/A/N	Score	Result
2006	Group 1	N	New Caledonia 0 – 0 Tahiti	Draw
	Group 1	A	New Caledonia 0 – 2 Solomon Islands	Loss
	Group 1	N	New Caledonia 8 – 0 Cook Islands	Win
	Group 1	N	New Caledonia 8 – 0 Tonga	Win
2010	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia 1 – 0 Tahiti	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia 1 – 0 Tuvalu	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia 3 – 0 Cook Islands	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia 1 – 1 Fiji	Draw
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia 3 – 2 Solomon Islands	Win
	South Pacific Games	N	New Caledonia 1 – 0 Fiji	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	A	New Caledonia 3 – 3 Fiji	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	H	New Caledonia 4 – 0 Fiji	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	A	New Caledonia 1 – 1 Vanuatu	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	H	New Caledonia 3 – 0 Vanuatu	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	H	New Caledonia 1 – 3 New Zealand	Loss
	OFC Nations Cup	A	New Caledonia 0 – 3 New Zealand	Loss
2014	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia 5 – 2 Vanuatu	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia 3 – 4 Tahiti	Loss
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia 9 – 0 Samoa	Win
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia 0 – 2 New Zealand	Loss
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia 4 – 0 Tahiti	Win
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia 6 – 2 Solomon Islands	Win
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia 5 – 0 Solomon Islands	Win
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia 1 – 2 New Zealand	Loss
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia 1 – 0 Tahiti	Win
2018	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia 1 – 1 Papua New Guinea	Draw
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia 7 – 0 Samoa	Win
	OFC Nations Cup	N	New Caledonia 1 – 1 Tahiti	Draw
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia 0 – 2 New Zealand	Loss
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia 0 – 0 New Zealand	Draw
	Third Round	A	New Caledonia 2 – 2 Fiji	Draw
	Third Round	H	New Caledonia 2 – 1 New Zealand	Draw
2022	Group Stage	N	New Caledonia 1 – 2 Fiji	Loss
	Group Stage	N	New Caledonia 0 – 1 Papua New Guinea	Loss
	Group Stage	N	New Caledonia 1 – 7 New Zealand	Loss

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Host	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1973	New Zealand	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	10	6	No qualification
1980	New Caledonia	Third place	3rd	4	3	0	1	14	12	Qualified as host
1996	Oceania	Did not qualify								4	1	0	3	5	9
1998	Australia									4	0	0	4	4	10
2000	Tahiti									4	2	0	2	11	11
2002	New Zealand	Group stage	8th	3	0	0	3	1	14	4	3	0	1	25	4
2004	Australia	Did not qualify								4	2	1	1	16	2
2008	Oceania	Runners-up	2nd	6	2	2	2	12	10	6	5	1	0	10	3
2012	Solomon Islands	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	0	2	19	7	Qualified automatically
2016	Papua New Guinea	Semi-finals	3rd	4	1	2	1	9	3	Qualified automatically
2024	To be determined									To be determined
Total		Runners-up	6/10	27	12	4	11	65	52	26	13	2	11	71	39

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
Year	Host	Round	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1963	Fiji	Champions	2	2	0	0	10	3
1966	New Caledonia	Runners-up	4	3	0	1	17	2
1969	Papua New Guinea	Champions	5	4	1	0	20	3
1971	Tahiti	Champions	4	3	1	0	12	2
1975	Guam	Runners-up	5	4	0	1	16	4
1979	Fiji	Fourth place	5	3	0	2	26	8
1983	Samoa	Third place	6	4	0	2	16	11
1987	New Caledonia	Champions	6	5	0	1	26	4
1991	Papua New Guinea	Third place	5	3	0	2	13	8
1995	Tahiti	Group stage	4	2	0	2	19	3
2003	Fiji	Runners-up	6	4	1	1	29	3
2007	Samoa	Champions	6	5	1	0	10	3
2011	New Caledonia	Champions	7	6	0	1	36	3
2015	Papua New Guinea	See New Caledonia national under-23 football team
2019	Samoa	Runners-up	6	5	0	1	23	2
Total		7 Titles	65	48	4	13	250	57

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 21 September 2022.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	WPCT
American Samoa	4	4	0	0	33	0	+33	100.00
Australia	4	0	0	4	1	23	−22	0.00
Bulgaria	1	0	0	1	3	5	−2	0.00
Cook Islands	4	4	0	0	32	0	+32	100.00
Estonia	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0.00
Micronesia	1	1	0	0	18	0	+18	100.00
Fiji	38	12	5	21	68	75	−7	31.58
Guadeloupe	2	0	1	1	1	5	−4	0.00
Guam	3	3	0	0	37	1	+36	100.00
Malaysia	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1	0.00
Martinique	3	0	1	2	1	7	−6	0.00
Mauritius	1	0	0	1	1	3	−2	0.00
Mayotte	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1	50.00
New Zealand	33	11	2	20	46	71	−25	33.33
Papua New Guinea	18	12	2	4	49	16	+33	66.67
Réunion	2	0	0	2	3	7	−4	0.00
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	1	1	0	0	16	1	+15	100.00
Samoa^{[lower-alpha 1]}	4	4	0	0	29	0	+29	100.00
Solomon Islands	26	14	2	10	53	30	+23	53.85
Tahiti	62	26	14	22	105	76	+29	41.94
Tonga	5	5	0	0	36	2	+34	100.00
Tuvalu	5	4	0	1	32	2	+30	80.00
Vanuatu^{[lower-alpha 2]}	38	23	7	8	97	45	+52	60.53
Wallis and Futuna	3	3	0	0	19	1	+18	100.00
Total	262	128	35	99	685	377	+308	48.85

Source: 1951–99 results and 2000–present results
Notes:

↑ Includes results as Western Samoa.
↑ Includes results as New Hebrides.

Honours

OFC Nations Cup
- Runner-up (2): 2008, 2012
- Third place (2): 1973, 1980
Pacific Games
- Champions (7): 1963, 1969, 1971, 1987, 2007, 2011, 2015
- Runner-up (4): 1966, 1987, 2003, 2019
- Third place (2): 1983, 1991

References

↑ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
↑ FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking September 2008
↑ "A Little History". Federation of Caledonian Football. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
↑ "New Caledonia". Footballdatabase.eu. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
↑ "New Caledonia camisa de futebol 2004 – 2006". 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
↑ "Selection A". Facebook. FCF Foot.
↑ "New Caledonia". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2021.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[table_note_SAM0.11076046810986-8] Includes results as Western Samoa.

[table_note_VAN0.11076046810986-9] Includes results as New Hebrides.

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

[2] FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking September 2008

[3] "A Little History". Federation of Caledonian Football. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.

[4] "New Caledonia". Footballdatabase.eu. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.

[5] "New Caledonia camisa de futebol 2004 – 2006". 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.

[6] "Selection A". Facebook. FCF Foot.

[7] "New Caledonia". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2021.

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New Caledonia national football team
General	New Caledonian Football Federation History Managers
Venues	Stade Numa-Daly Magenta
Results	1951–1999 2000–present
Players	List of players Other categories
OFC Nations Cups	1973 1980 2002 2008 2012 2016
Other tournaments	Melanesia Cup
Notable matches	2012 OFC Nations Cup final
Other NCFF teams	U23 U20 U17 Futsal

National sports teams of New Caledonia
Men	Baseball Basketball U18 U16 Beach soccer Cricket Football U23 U20 U17 Futsal Rugby league Rugby union 7s
Women	Basketball U18 Cricket Football U20 U17 Handball Rugby sevens Volleyball
Mixed	Badminton

National football teams of Oceania (OFC)
OFC Nations Cup
Active	American Samoa Cook Islands FS Micronesia² Fiji Kiribati¹ New Caledonia New Zealand Niue² Palau² Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tahiti Tonga Tuvalu¹ Vanuatu
Former	Australia (moved to AFC in 2006) Northern Mariana Islands³ (moved to AFC in 2009) Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)⁴ (returned to AFC in 1989)
¹ Associate member of OFC - Not a member of FIFA ² Not a member of OFC and consequently not a member of FIFA ³ Northern Mariana Islands was only an associate member of OFC between 1998 and 2009 - Not a member of FIFA ⁴ Although not geographically in Oceania, Chinese Taipei was a member of the OFC between 1976–1978 and 1982–1989 Although not geographically in Oceania Israel entered OFC World Cup qualification in 1986 and 1990 due to political reasons, though it never became a formal OFC member.