New Zealand U-20 women’s head coach Gemma Lewis has named a strong squad to contest the OFC U-19 Championship at the end of this month in the Cook Islands.

Lewis, the new NZ U-20 coach and the new Future Ferns Domestic Programme manager, has named a squad laden with FIFA World Cup experience.

Five of the members – Maggie Jenkins, Aneka Mittendorff, Rose Morton, Gabi Rennie and Nadia Olla – all return for their second FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifying cycle. Olla was also a member of the Football Ferns squad at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

There are also nine players from the New Zealand U-17 women’s team who famously claimed a bronze medal at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay in December last year.

Lewis is excited to begin another FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle.

“This is a great group of players and we are looking forward to the challenge in the Cook Islands,” said Lewis.  

“It is great to have that experience in the squad for this championship and we will be taking nothing for granted as we look to qualify for the World Cup next year.” 

New Zealand, who have won the title six times, will head to the Cook Islands as defending champions and favourites for the OFC U-19 Championship.

The tournament will take place from 29 August to 14 September with New Zealand being drawn in Group B with Samoa, American Samoa and Tahiti.

The winner of the tournament will qualify for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup as the OFC representatives.

New Zealand U-20 squad for the OFC U-19 Championship

Amelia Abbott, Nelson Suburbs
Mackenzie Barry, Forrest Hill Milford United
Kelli Brown, Forrest Hill Milford United
Ava Collins, Eastern Suburbs
Tahlia Herman-Watt, Coastal Spirit 
Maggie Jenkins, Glenfield Rovers 
Hannah Mackay-Wright, Dunedin Technical 
Arabella Maynard, Forrest Hill Milford United 
Aneka Mittendorff, Forrest Hill Milford United 
Rose Morton, Dunedin Technical 
Nadia Olla, Western Springs 
Alisha Perry, Three Kings United 
Gabi Rennie, Waimakariri United
Marisa Van der Meer, Cashmere Technical 
Lara Wall, Cashmere Technical
Dani Ward, The Gap, Australia
Rene Wasi, Forrest Hill Milford United 
Charlotte Wilford Carroll, Wellington United 
Grace Wisnewski, Hamilton Wanderers

New Zealand’s games

New Zealand vs Samoa
CIFA Academy Field, Rarotonga
Saturday 31 August, 1pm (Sunday 1 September, 11am NZT)

Tahiti vs New Zealand
CIFA Academy Field, Rarotonga
Tuesday 3 September, 1pm (Wednesday 4 September, 11am NZT)

American Samoa vs New Zealand
CIFA Academy Field, Rarotonga
Friday 6 September, 4pm (Saturday 7 September, 2pm NZT)

Article added: Tuesday 06 August 2019