Solomon Islands national football team explained

Solomon Islands
Badge:Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg
Badge Size:220px
Nickname:Bonitos
Association:Solomon Islands Football Federation
Confederation:OFC (Oceania)
Coach:Jacob Moli (interim)
Captain:Joses Nawo
Most Caps:Henry Fa'arodo (64)
Top Scorer:Commins Menapi (34)
Home Stadium:National Stadium,
Lawson Tama Stadium
Fifa Trigramme:SOL
Fifa Max:120
Fifa Max Date:October 2007, April 2008
Fifa Min:200
Fifa Min Date:January–March 2016
Elo Max:109
Elo Max Date:September 2005
Elo Min:177
Elo Min Date:November 2016
Pattern B1:_SOL_h22
Pattern Sh1:_shorts
Leftarm1:F1FF00
Body1:F1FF00
Rightarm1:F1FF00
Shorts1:0000FF
Socks1:F1FF00
Pattern B2:_SOL_a22
Pattern Sh2:_shorts
Leftarm2:157D65
Body2:157D65
Rightarm2:157D65
Shorts2:FFFFFF
Socks2:FFFFFF
First Game: 6–3
(Suva, Fiji; 30 August 1963)
Largest Win: 16–0
(Papeete, Tahiti; 21 August 1995)
Largest Loss: 18–0
(Suva, Fiji; 8 December 1963)
Regional Name:OFC Nations Cup
Regional Cup Apps:8
Regional Cup First:1980
Regional Cup Best:Runners-up, 2004

The Solomon Islands men's national football team is the national football team of Solomon Islands, administered by the Solomon Islands Football Federation. The Solomon Islands national football team was founded in 1978. They were officially recognised by FIFA a decade later, in 1988.[1]

History

During the 2004 Oceania World Cup qualification/Oceania Cup the team drew 2–2 with Australia and qualified for the second leg. In the second leg, the Solomon Islands national men's team were thrashed by Australia 5–1 and 6–0 in the two matches, with Australia qualifying for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The Solomons got a second chance against the Socceroos in a two-legged series in September 2005, this time with the winner advancing to a two-legged series against CONMEBOL's fifth-place finisher for a berth in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and the team was thrashed by Australia 7–0 on the first leg and 2–1 in the second played at home.

The Solomons were knocked out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – having got off to a good start winning every game in their qualifying group and comfortably progressing to the knockout rounds, defeats to New Caledonia and then to Vanuatu saw them knocked out of the competition.

In 2012, the Solomon Islands held the 2012 OFC Nations Cup which was also the second round of World Cup qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup where they finished in fourth place after qualifying through to the knockout stage by defeating Papua New Guinea and having draws against Fiji and New Zealand. They lost in the semi-final after they lost to the champions Tahiti after Jonathan Tehau scored the only goal. They later lost to New Zealand in the third-place playoff. The third round of World Cup qualifying saw the team finish bottom of the group after only taking one win against Tahiti.

After first taking charge of the team in 2017, Spaniard Felipe Vega-Arango was appointed for his second stint in June 2021.[2]

In 2019, they went on a three-week training tour in Netherlands.[3]

In June 2023, Solomon Islands played their friendly match against Southeast Asia countries, Singapore and Malaysia. Solomon Island won the 2023 MSG Prime Minister's Cup after winning against Papua New Guinea (3–1), Vanuatu (1–0) and New Caledonia (1–0) as Raphael Lea'i clinch the golden boots as the tournament top scorer with four goals.

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Kit lierPeriod
2004–2012
Pasifika 2013–2016
Veto2016–2021
UCAN2022–

Sponsors

Results and fixtures

See main article: Solomon Islands national football team results (1963–1999) and Solomon Islands national football team results (2000–present). The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2024

Coaching staff

Position
Head coach Jacob Moli
Assistant coach Stanley Waita
Goalkeeper coach Tibon Oge
Kit Manager Augustine Hou
Team Manager Dixion Lauia Anga

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the 2024 OFC Men's Nations Cup.[7]

Caps and goals correct as of 18 June 2024, after the match against

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up within the last twelve months.

Player records

[8]

Players in bold are still active with Solomon Islands.

Most appearances

width=30pxRankNamewidth=50pxCapswidth=50pxGoalsCareer
1Henry Fa'arodo64202002–2017
2Joses Nawo5282011–present
Benjamin Totori52292007–2019
4Hadisi Aengari4402011–present
5Philip Mango3902016–present
6Nelson Sale Kilifa3702004–2017
7Atkin Kaua3652016–present
Commins Menapi36342000–2007
Batram Suri36141995–2005
10Gagame Feni34192012–present

Top goalscorers

width=30pxRankNamewidth=50pxGoalswidth=50pxCapswidth=50pxRatioCareer
1Commins Menapi34362000–2007
2Benjamin Totori29522007–2019
3Henry Fa'arodo20642002–2017
4Gagame Feni19342012–present
5Batram Suri14361995–2005
6Raphael Lea'i12182022–present
7Noel Berry10151995–2000
8John Orobulu892018–present
Micah Lea'alafa8262016–present
Joses Nawo8522011–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World CupFIFA World Cup qualification
YearHostRound
1930 to 1986Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
1990 ItalyDid not enterDid not enter
1994 United StatesDid not qualifyGroup Stage4013513
1998 FranceGroup Stage83322223
2002
Japan
Group Stage42021710
2006 Germany2nd116232416
2010 South AfricaKnockout Stage6402236
2014 Brazil4th9225722
20182nd94141016
2022 Qatar2nd320168
2026 Canada
Mexico
United States
To be determinedTo be determined
2030 Morocco
Portugal
Spain
2034 Saudi Arabia
Total5723925118121

OFC Nations Cup

Oceania Cup / OFC Nations Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionSquad
1973Did not enterDid not enter
1980Group stage8th3003321No qualification
1996Semi-finals3rd200213Squad4400101
1998Did not qualify421187
2000Third place3rd4202710Squad4211109
2002Group stage6th301239SquadQualified automatically
2004Runners-up2nd73131017Squad4310141
2008Did not qualify6402236
2012Fourth place4th512256SquadQualified automatically
2016Semi-finals3rd410324Squad
2024Group stage6th200204Squad
TotalRunners-up8/1130741931742215346524

Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
YearRoundPosition
1963Fourth place4th3102626
1966Group stage6th2011412
1969Sixth place6th5014819
1971Colspan=8did not enter
1975Third place3rd421198
1979Third place3rd5401245
1983Group stage10th3102011
1987Colspan=8did not enter
1991Runners-up2nd5410123
1995Runners-up2nd64023410
2003Group stage5th4211144
2007Fourth place4th6402236
2011Runners-up2nd7502216
2015See Solomon Islands national under-23 football team
2019Group stage7th5212309
TotalRunners-up12/155529620185119

Wantok Cup

Honours

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Member Association – Solomon Islands. https://web.archive.org/web/20070623100219/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=sol/index.html. dead. 23 June 2007. FIFA.com. en-GB. 2018-09-05.
  2. Web site: Solomon Islands appoint new coach. 23 June 2021. 24 June 2021. 23 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210623231033/https://www.oceaniafootball.com/solomon-islands-appoint-new-coach/. live.
  3. Web site: Historic training camp in Netherlands wrap-up. siff.com.sb. 17 July 2022. 2 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220702223844/https://www.siff.com.sb/historic-training-camp-in-netherlands-wrap-up/. live.
  4. Web site: FIFA.com . 23 June 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070623100219/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=sol/index.html . 23 June 2007 . dead.
  5. Web site: Solomons search for new coach. Oceania Football Confederation. 29 July 2016. 29 July 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160729044059/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/8e7e4eb8-f2a7-40b2-85a4-112359581163/language/en-US/Default.aspx. 29 July 2016. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: MOLI APPOINTED FOR NATIONS CUP 2024. . 28 June 2024.
  7. Web site: Final 23-man squad named for OFC Nations Cup 2024. Facebook . Solomon Islands Football Federation. 29 May 2024.
  8. Web site: Solomon Islands . National Football Teams . 24 April 2021 . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402153408/https://www.national-football-teams.com/country/170/2023/Solomon_Islands.html . live .