Tahiti national football team
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| Nickname(s) | Toa Aito (Les guerriers de fer / Iron Warriors) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Tahitian Football Federation | ||
| Confederation | OFC (Oceania) | ||
| Head coach | Ludovic Graugnard | ||
| Captain | Nicolas Vallar | ||
| Most caps | Angelo Tchen (30) | ||
| Top scorer | Félix Tagawa (14) | ||
| Home stadium | Stade Hamuta | ||
| FIFA code | TAH | ||
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| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current |
150  22 (24 November 2016) | ||
| Highest | 111 (August 2002) | ||
| Lowest | 196 (April–May 2016) | ||
| Elo ranking | |||
| Current | 141 (15 June 2016) | ||
| Highest | 45 (September 1983) | ||
| Lowest | 156 (September 2010) | ||
| First international | |||
 French Polynesia 2–2 New Zealand  (Papeete, Tahiti; 21 September 1952) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Tahiti 30–0 Cook Islands  (Papeete, Tahiti; 2 September 1971) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
New Zealand 10–0 Tahiti  (Adelaide, Australia; 4 June 2004)  Spain 10–0 Tahiti (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 20 June 2013) | |||
| OFC Nations Cup | |||
| Appearances | 8 (first in 1973) | ||
| Best result | Winners, 2012 | ||
| Confederations Cup | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2013) | ||
| Best result | Group stage, 2013 | ||
The Tahiti national football team is the national team of French Polynesia[1][2][3][4] and is controlled by the Fédération Tahitienne de Football. The team consists of a selection of players from French Polynesia, not just Tahiti, and has competed in the Oceania Football Confederation since 1990.
Tahiti is traditionally one of the stronger footballing nations of the Pacific Islands, with the second best record at the football section of the South Pacific Games, with five victories. They were runners-up in the first three instalments of the Nations Cup (1973, 1980, and 1996). The nation went through a period of less success, but showed promise when it qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. This success was followed up with the title of 2012 OFC Nations Cup, becoming the first team other than Australia and New Zealand to win the competition.
History
Tahiti played its first full match on 21 September 1952, at home against New Zealand, and drew 2–2. Seven days later the two teams played again and New Zealand won 5–3. On 30 September they played each other for a third time, and Tahiti gained its first victory, by 2–0. However, it is unknown whether this was a full international.[5]
In September 1953, Tahiti played three matches in New Caledonia against its national side, losing the first 5–0 and the later two 4–1. They then travelled to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and beat its national side 4–2 twice. In 1989, under the leadership of Napoleon Spitz, the official federation was created.
Tahiti entered its first World Cup qualification with the aim of reaching the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. They were placed in Group A with Australia and the Solomon Islands, and played their first match away to the Solomon Islands in Honiara on 11 July 1992. Eric Etaeta equalised for Tahiti to make it 1–1 in the 76th minute. On 11 September Tahiti hosted Australia in Papeete and lost 3–0. The next fixture was again against Australia, and resulted in a 2–0 away defeat in Brisbane on 20 September. On 9 October in Papeete, Tahiti beat the Solomon Islands 4–2. Tahiti's first goal was scored as an 8th-minute penalty from Reynald Temarii, a politician and current president of the Oceania Football Confederation. However, Tahiti finished second to Australia in the group and did not advance.
2012 OFC Nations Cup
In 2012, the new edition of the tournament occurred in the Solomon Islands with the host country, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Samoa (winner of the qualifying tournament) playing the competition. Tahiti defeated New Caledonia in the final in Lawson Tama Stadium 1–0 with a goal by Steevy Chong Hue and became the first team other than Australia (no longer part of OFC) and New Zealand to be crowned Oceania champions.[6]
2013 Confederations Cup
By winning the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, Tahiti qualified for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil for the first time.[7] Tahiti is the first and so far only team who has participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. On 17 June 2013, even though, Tahiti lost 1–6 to Nigeria in the 2013 Confederations Cup in Belo Horizonte in Brazil, with Jonathan Tehau getting the goal for Tahiti in the second half with a header from a corner, Tahiti fans still rejoiced in the prospect of scoring a goal in an international tournament.[8] On 20 June 2013, Tahiti lost 10–0 against Spain equalling their biggest ever loss against New Zealand nine years earlier.[9] On 23 June 2013, Tahiti was beaten 8–0 by Uruguay.
In all, Tahiti conceded 24 goals and scored one. They ended with a goal differential of −23, the worst of any national team in any major competition.[10] But even with the bad record and heavy defeats, Tahiti's underdog qualities gathered huge respect from the people of Brazil, who always cheered for them in every match.[11] Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque, and strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa – who scored four and three goals respectively against Tahiti – complimented the team's fair play.[12]
| 17 June 2013 | Tahiti |
1–6 |  Nigeria |
Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | J. Tehau  54' |
Report | Vallar 5' (o.g.) Oduamadi 10', 26', 76'J. Tehau 69' (o.g.)Echiéjilé 80' |
Attendance: 20,187 Referee: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador) |
| 20 June 2013 | Spain |
10–0 | Tahiti |
Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | Torres 5', 33', 57', 78' Silva 31', 89'Villa 39', 49', 64'Mata 66' |
Report | Attendance: 71,806 Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria) |
| 23 June 2013 | Uruguay  |
8–0 | Tahiti |
Arena Pernambuco, Recife |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | Hernández 2', 24', 45+1', 67' (pen.) Pérez 27'Lodeiro 61'Suárez 82', 90' |
Report | Attendance: 22,047 Referee: Pedro Proença (Portugal) |
Competitive Record
FIFA World Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup
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OFC Nations Cup
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Pacific Games
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Polynesia Cup
Coupe de l'Outre-Mer
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List of coaches
- Francois Vernaudon (1973)
Umberto Mottini (1995–1996)- Gerard Kautai (1996)
- Richard Vansam (1997)
- Alain Rousseau/Eddy Rousseau (1997–1998)
Leon Gardikiotis (1999–2000)- Patrick Jacquemet (2001–2002)
- Gérard Kautai (2004–2007)
- Eddy Etaeta (2010–2015)
- Patrice Flaccadori (at 2015 Pacific Games)
- Ludovic Graugnard (2015–Present)
Players
Current Squad
The following players were called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – OFC Third Round matches against the Solomon Islands on November 7 and November 13, 2016.
Caps and goals updated as of 13 November 2016 after the second game against the Solomon Islands.
| # | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Mickaël Roche | 24 December 1982 | 12 | 0 | Tefana
|
| 16 | GK | Steven Hiriga | 30 January 1992 | 0 | 0 | Tefana |
| 2 | DF | Taumihau Tiatia | 25 July 1991 | 4 | 0 | Tefana
|
| 4 | DF | Matatia Paama | 3 October 1992 | 2 | 0 | Central Sport
|
| 5 | DF | Ricky Aitamai | 22 December 1991 | 8 | 0 | Vénus
|
| 8 | DF | Jonathan Tehau | 9 January 1988 | 24 | 5 | Tefana
|
| 18 | DF | Tefai Faehau-Heitaa | 26 February 1988 | 2 | 0 | Vénus
|
| 19 | DF | Valdo Yakeula | 0 | 0 | Central Sport | |
| 3 | MF | Jay Warren | 4 May 1989 | 4 | 0 | Central Sport
|
| 6 | MF | Tunoa Tavaerai | 18 June 1992 | 2 | 0 | Tefana
|
| 7 | MF | Heirauarii Salem | 28 April 1998 | 0 | 0 | Pirae
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| 9 | MF | Tauhiti Keck | 1 August 1994 | 5 | 1 | Vénus
|
| 14 | MF | Manuarii Hauata | 17 March 1994 | 1 | 0 | Central Sport
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| 15 | MF | Heimano Bourebare | 15 May 1989 | 22 | 1 | Tefana
|
| 20 | MF | Alvin Tehau | 10 April 1989 | 19 | 8 | Tefana
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| MF | Henri Caroine | 7 September 1981 | 12 | 0 |  Horizon Patho
| |
| MF | Lorenzo Tehau | 10 April 1989 | 14 | 6 | Tefana | |
| 10 | FW | Teaonui Tehau | 1 September 1992 | 22 | 13 | Vénus
|
| 11 | FW | Sylvain Graglia | 12 April 1989 | 2 | 0 | Tefana
|
| 12 | FW | Mauarii Tehina | 16 October 1993 | 2 | 0 | Vénus
|
| 13 | FW | Steevy Chong Hue | 26 January 1990 | 26 | 8 | Tefana
|
| 21 | FW | Fred Tissot | 14 July 1995 | 4 | 0 | Central Sport |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to represent Tahiti within the last 12 months.
| # | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Rainui Aroita | 25 January 1994 | 2 | 0 | A.S. Tamarii Faa'aa
| |
| DF | Vincent Simon | 28 September 1983 | 25 | 1 | A.S. Dragon
| |
| DF | Nicolas Vallar (Captain) | 22 October 1983 | 17 | 4 | A.S. Tefana
| |
| DF | Raimana Dahlluin | 31 March 1993 | 0 | 0 | Central Sport | |
| MF | Temarii Tinorua | 4 September 1986 | 12 | 2 | A.S. Tefana
| |
| MF | Tamatoa Tetauira | 17 April 1996 | 2 | 0 | A.S. Dragon | |
| FW | Tauatua Lucas | 23 November 1994 | 5 | 1 | A.S. Tefana
| |
| FW | Fred Tissot | 14 July 1995 | 3 | 0 | Central Sport | |
References
- ↑ "Trophies in paradise". The Football Ramble. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ "Tahiti ready for Confederations Cup". The Scotsman. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ "IN THE LAND OF GIANTS – Tahiti set for Confederations Cup adventure". Football Republika. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ↑ "Tahiti national football team". Road To Brazil. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ↑ "Tahiti International Matches". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ↑ "Glorious Tahiti claim maiden Oceania crown". FIFA.com. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ↑ "Proud Tahiti No1 aims to enjoy Brazil challenge". FIFA.com. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ↑ "Nigeria 6 Tahiti 1". BBC Sport. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ↑ "Spain 10 Tahiti 0". BBC Sport. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ↑ "Uruguay 8 Tahiti 0". BBC Sport. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ↑ "Técnico confirma 'carisma' do Taiti e cumprimenta jornalistas na despedida". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 23 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ↑ "Nada de pancadaria: 'fair play' do Taiti em goleada arranca elogios da Fúria". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 21 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
External links
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