The Cook Islands national women’s football team departed yesterday for the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup, set to kick off in Fiji next week.

The national team is drawn into a competitive Group A alongside, Tahiti, Samoa and 2022 runners-up Papua New Guinea.

Cook Islands will face Tahiti in their opening match on July 4 followed by Samoa on July 7 and PNG on July 10.

All group matches will be played in Lautoka, Fiji, and head coach Angela Wallbank says her side is embracing the challenge.

“The countdown is over and we’re ready,” said Wallbank.

“We’ve been preparing very well – on the pitch and off it. The girls have been dedicated, focused, and there’s a real hunger in this squad to prove themselves on the international stage.”

This marks the Cook Islands’ fifth appearance at the Women’s Nations Cup, and the 2025 squad brings a fresh outlook, combining the energy of emerging youth players, overseas-based talent, and the experience of seasoned domestic veterans.

Among those to watch is 18-year-old midfielder Teupoko Tuariki, a product of the national age-group system and a recent participant in the OFC Women’s Champions League.

“She’s come a long way in a short time,” said Wallbank of Tuariki. “She soaks up everything and has improved tremendously since the start of the year.”

Wallbank acknowledges the path to the knockout stages won’t be easy.

“All those teams can play and score. We need to match that and stay disciplined. If we play our game and execute, we believe we can go far.”

Many of the squad members recently gained valuable exposure at the OFC Women’s Champions League in May, where Wallbank led Tupapa Maraerenga FC, the reigning domestic champions.

Despite falling short of the knockout stages, the experience was a crucial learning curve.

“That tournament really highlighted where our gaps are compared to stronger OFC nations,” said Wallbank. “Since then, we’ve worked on game awareness, sharpened technical skills, and developed a more tactical approach to how we want to play.”

At the 2022 edition of the Women’s Nations Cup, the Cook Islands made it out of the group stage but were halted in the quarterfinals by host nation Fiji.

With renewed focus and a stronger base, the team now sets its sights on making a deeper run in 2025.

“We wish our team all the best as they carry the nation’s hopes onto the regional stage,” said Cook Islands Football Association.

• CIFA Media

Fixtures

The team’s fixtures are as follows: vs Tahiti – 4 July 2025, 12PM (local time); vs Samoa – 7 July 2025, 12PM (local time); vs Papua New Guinea – 10 July 2025, 3PM (local time)