New Caledonia national football team
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.
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 | 163 2 (21 September 2023)[1] | ||
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 |
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 Oceania 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 |
|
Stadium: Stade Pater Te Hono Nui |
24 March Friendly Match | Tahiti | 2–1 | New Caledonia | Pirae, Tahiti |
|
Report |
|
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 |
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
Players were called up for the friendly matches against Tahiti on 20 and 23 March 2023.[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 | GK | Jean-Gilles Hnamuko | 2 March 1996 | 3 | 0 | Alisontia Steinsel |
16 | GK | Wareen Hlupa | 16 April 2004 | 1 | 0 | Lössi |
2 | DF | Bernard Iwa | 16 May 2000 | 4 | 0 | Qanono Sport |
3 | DF | Vincent Vakié | 20 October 1990 | 3 | 0 | Kunié |
5 | DF | Sake Forest | 13 August 2003 | 2 | 0 | Tiga Sport |
6 | DF | Jules Omei | 14 July 2001 | 3 | 0 | Mont-Dore |
13 | DF | Josuah Hlemu | 7 December 2000 | 1 | 0 | Auteuil |
17 | DF | Gabriel Vakoume | 9 February 1989 | 2 | 0 | Free agent |
7 | MF | Pierre Bako | 9 August 2001 | 5 | 0 | Free agent |
8 | MF | Morgan Mathelon | 12 September 1991 | 5 | 0 | Tiga Sport |
10 | MF | David Bearune | 17 June 1994 | 3 | 0 | Tiga Sport |
11 | MF | Robert Neoere | 18 April 1996 | 3 | 0 | Kunié |
12 | MF | Shene Wélépane | 9 December 1997 | 10 | 3 | Tiga Sport |
14 | MF | Cyril Nypie | 11 April 2000 | 6 | 0 | Tiga Sport |
15 | MF | Fonzy Ranchain | 22 July 1994 | 2 | 0 | Hienghène Sport |
19 | MF | Makalu Xowi | 20 April 1999 | 0 | 0 | Gaïtcha |
20 | MF | William Read | 11 January 2003 | 2 | 0 | Lössi |
9 | FW | Gilbert Kugogne | 4 May 2004 | 1 | 0 | Magenta |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player records
- As of 23 March 2023[7]
- Players in bold are still active with New Caledonia.
Most appearances
Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bertrand Kaï | 43 | 23 | 2008–present |
2 | Emile Béaruné | 41 | 0 | 2010–present |
3 | Joël Wakanumuné | 39 | 1 | 2011–present |
Pierre Wajoka | 39 | 13 | 2003–2011 | |
5 | César Zeoula | 35 | 10 | 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 | Jean-Patrick Wakanumuné | 25 | 0 | 2007–2013 |
Top goalscorers
Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bertrand Kaï | 23 | 43 | 0.53 | 2008–present |
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–present |
5 | Pierre Wajoka | 13 | 39 | 0.33 | 2003–2011 |
6 | Jean-Philippe Saïko | 12 | 9 | 1.33 | 2016–present |
7 | Joris Pibke | 11 | 5 | 2.2 | 2000–2002 |
8 | Paul Poatinda | 10 | 10 | 1 | 2003–2004 |
César Zeoula | 10 | 35 | 0.29 | 2008–present | |
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 | |||||||||||||
Total | 0/22 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 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 | |||||||
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 |
- Includes results as Western Samoa.
- Includes results as New Hebrides.
Honours
References
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 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.
- "C'est parti pour TAHITI | SELECTION A | Matchs amicaux (FIFA)" (in French). Fédération Calédonienne de Football. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- "New Caledonia". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2021.