2023 OFC Champions League explained

Tourney Name:OFC Champions League
Year:2023
Country:Group stage:
Vanuatu
Dates:Qualifying:
11 February – 18 March
Competition proper:
14 – 27 May[1]
Num Teams:Total: 18
Associations:11
Count:11
Second Other: Suva
Matches:14
Goals:50
Top Scorer: Ryan De Vries
(5 goals)
Prevseason:2022
Nextseason:2024

The 2023 OFC Champions League was the 22nd edition of the Oceanian Club Championship, Oceania's premier club football tournament organized by the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and the 17th season under the current OFC Champions League name.

Defending champions Auckland City FC, defeated Fijian Suva to win a record eleventh title and earned the right to play at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.[2] As they also won the 2021 OFC Champions League and the 2022 OFC Champions League, they also earned the right to play at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.[3]

Teams

A total of 18 teams from all 11 OFC member associations may enter the competition.

AssociationTeamQualifying method
Teams entering the National playoffs
FijiRewa2022 Fiji National Football League champions
Suva2022 Fiji National Football League runners-up
New CaledoniaAS Tiga Sport2022 New Caledonia Super Ligue champions
Hienghène Sport2022 New Caledonia Super Ligue runners-up
New ZealandAuckland City2022 New Zealand National League grand final champions
Wellington Olympic2022 New Zealand National League grand final runners-up
Papua New GuineaLae City2022 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League champions
Hekari United2022 Papua New Guinea National Soccer League runners-up
Solomon IslandsSolomon Warriors2022–23 Solomon Islands S-League champions
Kossa2022–23 Solomon Islands S-League runners-up
TahitiAS Pirae2021–22 Tahiti Ligue 1 champions
AS Dragon2021–22 Tahiti Ligue 1 runners-up
VanuatuIfira Black Bird F.C.2022 VFF National Super League grand final champions
Sia-Raga F.C.2022 VFF National Super League grand final runners-up
Teams entering the qualifying stage
American SamoaIlaoa and To'omata2022 FFAS Senior League champions
Cook IslandsTupapa Maraerenga2022 Cook Islands Round Cup champions
SamoaLupe ole Soaga2022 Samoa National League third place
TongaVeitongo2022 Tonga Major League champions

Qualifying stage

See main article: 2023 OFC Champions League qualifying stage.

National play-offs

Group stage

See main article: 2023 OFC Champions League group stage.

The four teams in each group will play each other on a round-robin basis at a centralised venue in Vanuatu.[4] The winners and runners-up of each group will advance to the semi-finals of the knockout stage.

The draw of the group stage were announced by the OFC on 23 March 2023.[5] [6] The 8 teams were drawn into two groups of four. Ifira Black Bird were pre-determined to play in Port Vila and so were automatically drawn into group B.

Group B

Knockout stage

See main article: 2023 OFC Champions League knockout stage.

Final

Statistics

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerTeamGoals
1 Michael Tumua Leo Lupe ole Soaga7
2 Ryan De Vries Auckland City5
Azariah Soromon Suva
4 Tamatoa Tetauira Pirae4
5 Liam Gillion Auckland City3
Angus Kilkolly
Emiliano Tade
Marlon Tahioa Suva
Alex Saniel
Ariiura Labaste Pirae
Godine Tenene Ifira Black Bird
12 Kenny Iawak2
Joseph Joe Hekari United
Joe Naime
Rusiate Matarerega Suva
Yohann Tihoni Pirae
Roonui Tinirauarii Dragon
Hamish Watson Wellington Olimpic
Shene Wélépane Tiga Sport
Yagi Yasasa Hekari United

Awards

AwardWinner[7]
Golden Ball Cameron Howieson
Golden Boot Ryan de Vries

Notes and References

  1. Web site: VFF 2023 National Champions League locked to start 1 February . . 30 January 2023 . 25 February 2023.
  2. Web site: Auckland City FC are OFC Champions for 11th time. RNZ.co.nz. 27 May 2023.
  3. Web site: FIFA Council confirms key details for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 . . 17 December 2023 . 21 December 2023.
  4. Web site: OFC Competitions 2023 Calendar confirmed 1/01/2023 . Oceania Football Confederation . 25 February 2023.
  5. Web site: OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2023 DRAW COMPLETED. Oceania Football Confederation. 23 March 2023. 2 April 2023.
  6. Web site: DRAW DATE CONFIRMED FOR OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2023. Oceania Football Confederation. 20 March 2023. 2 April 2023.
  7. Web site: AUCKLAND CITY FC CLAIM RECORD-EXTENDING 11TH OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE IN EXTRA-TIME NAIL-BITER . Oceania Football Confederation . 27 May 2023.