Auckland City will play Vanuatu champions Ifira Black Bird in Wednesday’s semi-final of the OFC Champions League tournament in Port Vila.
The VFF National Super League champions beat New Caledonian club Tiga Sport on Sunday to clinch the runners-up spot in Group B, entitling them to a midweek match with the Navy Blues.
In the other semi-final, Tahiti’s AS Pirae will play Fiji’s Suva.
The final table for Auckland City’s group was rewritten on Sunday without a game being played.
It followed a decision by Oceania Football Confederation to consider Samoa’s Lupe Ole Soaga to have withdrawn from the tournament.
OFC ruled that the team’s results against Suva and Solomon Warriors would be considered null and void, and their opponents awarded 3-0 wins as well as the three points.
The ruling was prompted by Lupe Ole Soaga’s inability to field a team against Auckland City for the final pool game, citing player injuries as the reason.
In a statement on Sunday, OFC said: “Oceania Football Confederation can confirm that Lupe ole Soaga SC is considered withdrawn from OFC Champions League 2023.”
By not playing Auckland City, Lupe was unable to fulfill the requirements of the competition’s regulations.
“Following this decision, Lupe ole Soaga SC have been referred to the OFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.”
Final standings
Semi-finals
Game to be played on Wednesday May 24, 2023
Auckland City (NZ) v Ifira Black Bird (Vanuatu)
Port Vila, 12.30pm (NZT)
Live stream here >>>>
Game to be played on Wednesday May 24, 2023
AS Pirae (Tahiti) v Suva (Fiji)
Port Vila, 4pm (NZT)
Live stream here >>>>
Final
Game to be played on Saturday May 27, 2023
VFF Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, 3pm (NZT)
Live stream here >>>>
READ MORE: Our previous stories about the OFC Champions League >>>>
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