Source: Radio New Zealand
Kate Taylor is back for the Football Ferns. Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
The Football Ferns squad has been named for the Oceania Qualifiers finals in Aotearoa next month, where the side will aim to book a ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
The squad sees Ferns’ regulars Ally Green, Jacqui Hand, Gabi Rennie, and Kate Taylor, added to the group, who won all three Oceania Qualifiers games in the Solomon Islands earlier this month without conceding a goal.
The Football Ferns will first face Fiji in the semi-finals on Sunday, 12 April at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.
The winner of that game will then take on the winner of Papua New Guinea v American Samoa on Wednesday, 15 April at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, with the victorious side securing qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.
Football Ferns head coach Michael Mayne said because the games come so quickly after the group stage, the decision was made to retain the vast majority of that squad.
“So we have real consistency and can hit the ground running once the players are back home,” Mayne said.
“The tournament in the Solomon Islands was a great start to the year, and while the scores reflected the difference in quality we have over those OFC nations, what was pleasing was the way in which we stayed connected to what we wanted to get from the fixtures in the way we played and approached those matches very professionally as a group.”
“The reality is, we have not played in New Zealand in over a year, so being back in Aotearoa is a real privilege and the prospect of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in front of our home fans and families is very special and not something we get to do very often.”
Full squad
Liz Anton
Hannah Blake
Kelli Brown
Claudia Bunge
Milly Clegg
Victoria Esson
Michaela Foster
Ally Green
Maya Hahn
Jacqui Hand
Deven Jackson
Grace Jale
Katie Kitching
Charlotte Lancaster
Meikayla Moore
Emma Pijnenburg
Gabi Rennie
Indiah-Paige Riley
Alina Santos
Rebekah Stott
Kate Taylor
Pia Vlok
Grace Wisnewski
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
