On Thursday, Fiji and Papua New Guinea will clash in the 2022 World Cup’s OFC group-stage qualifier at Qatar’s Grand Hamad Stadium, with a kickoff at 8 pm.
On Friday, Fiji international Sairusi Nalaubu was on the scoresheet as the Bula Boys took a 2-1 victory over New Caledonia in their first 2022 World Cup qualifier.
On Monday, they then suffered a 4-0 defeat away to New Zealand, with Flemming Serritslev’s side seeing their heaviest loss in 15 years.
The defeat means Fiji turn their attention to Thursday’s meeting against Papua New Guinea, where they have notched up five straight wins against the Kapuas. Their last match was in July 2019, when they beat PNG 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to finish third at the Pacific Games.
Fiji, who have never qualified for the World Cup, finished third in the last two qualification group-stage campaigns. Serritslev’s men will be keen to avoid a third successive third-place finish with a victory on Thursday.
However, Papua New Guinea can secure qualification for the next stage in World Cup qualifying if they draw with Fiji on Wednesday, as they are currently positioned above Fiji on goal difference.
A slender 1-0 defeat against New Zealand last month was followed by a narrow victory by the same scoreline against New Caledonia on Monday, with Tommy Semmy’s eighth-minute strike enough to secure three crucial points.
Fiji vs Papua New Guinea Head to Head
Both sides have two games against each other that ended with two draws. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- New Zealand 4-0 Fiji
- New Caledonia 1-2 Fiji
- Singapore 2-0 Fiji
- Fiji 1-1 Solomon Islands
- Malaysia 1-0 Fiji
Away
- Papua New Guinea 1-0 New Caledonia
- New Guinea 0-1 New Zealand
- New Guinea 1-2 Solomon Islands
- Solomon Islands 3-2 New Guinea
- Tahiti 1-2 New Guinea
Fiji Team News
Kishan Sami, Lekima General, Antonio Tuivuna and Remuera Tekiate could all retain their places in the back four. Captain Roy Krishna – who has scored 21 goals in 40 international appearances for the Bula Boys – is set to join strike partner Nalaubu upfront.
Papua New Guinea Team News
The visitors are expected to employ a 4-4-2 formation against Fiji, with captain Alwin Komolong starting alongside his brother Felix Komolong at centre-back.
Prediction and Odds
Both nations will fancy their chances of success on Thursday, but Fiji will have the psychological edge against Papua New Guinea, as they have not lost to the Kumuls in five matches.
- Fiji Win
- Goals Under 3.5
- No Score: Away
