Pacific / Solomon Islands

Sport: Solomon Islands name U-17 FIFA World Cup squad

12:50 pm on 4 October 2019

Solomon Islands U-17 Football coach Stanley Waita has named his 21-man travelling squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil this month.

Raphael Le'ai competes for the ball during the OFC Under 16 Championship in 2018. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

It's the first time the Solomons has ever made it to a FIFA Football World Cup in any age group.

Solomon Islands preparation has been shrouded in controversy over its fielding of an overaged player in the qualification tournament last year and the team was only fully cleared to compete in Brazil last month by a Court of Arbitration ruling in their favour.

Stanley Waita has included seven new players to his original squad, picking promising players from recent domestic tournaments.

However, the core of his squad is still built around key players such as Raphael Lea'i, Charles Mani, Leon Kofana and Javin Wae.

The team is scheduled to leave Solomon Islands next week with the aim of spending at least two weeks in Brazil ahead of their opening match against Italy on 26 October.

Photo: Solomon Islands Football Federation

Solomon Islands U-17 FIFA World Cup Squad Positions:

1. GIDEON SUTA, Goalkeeper

2. MALAM DAVIDSON, Goalkeeper

3. PETUA JUNIOR, Goalkeeper

4. TAEBO DERRICK, Defender

5. JAVIN WAE, Defender

6. FAKASORI STANFORD, Defender

7. TONGAKA PATESON, Defender

8. KOFANA LEON, Defender

9. FOATA HENSKEY, Defender

10. SALE ZANI, Defender

11. GESENI DENSLEY, Midfielder

12. KWAIMAMANI RICHIE, Midfielder

13. KEANA MAXWELL, Midfielder

14. IROSAEA BRADLEY, Midfielder

15. ROPA PHILIP, Midfielder

16. KANAHANIMAE ALFORD, Midfielder

17. SURI ALDEN, Midfielder

18. HOU SELWYN, Forward

19. LE'AI RAPHAEL, Forward

20. MANI CHARLES, Forward

21. LIMOKI BARRIE, Forward

Coach: Stanley WAITA