Football Ferns defender Rebekah Stott closes in on double milestone

Football Ferns defender Rebekah Stott is on the verge of achieving a double milestone if she can inspire her team to victory at the OFC Women’s Olympic Qualifier tournament in Samoa.

If Stott (30) can help New Zealand win the eight-nation tournament, she will be in line to attend her third Olympic Games.

And if she plays in the semi-final and final at the Olympic qualifiers, she’ll become only the 13th player to make 100 full international appearances for New Zealand.

Asked about the prospect of qualifying for the Paris Olympics in July, Stott told OFC Media: “It would be incredible. I remember my first major tournament was the London Olympics (2012), and it was just the most amazing experience I’ve ever had, so to be able to get back and qualify for another Olympics would mean the world to me and the team.”

Though selected for the 2012 London Olympics, Stott did not feature in any of the games. However, at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games, she played every minute of New Zealand’s matches.

To reach a third Olympics, Stott knows the Ferns first have to get past Fiji on Friday and then win a tournament final on Monday.

She said she had seen improvement by the Pacific teams since she last competed against them six years ago.

“it’s definitely improved a lot,” she said.

“They’ve definitely progressed and some of them go into a low block which makes it hard to break down and the players and the teams are getting a lot better so it’s good competition.”

Watch Rebekah Stott interview

OFC Media interviewed New Zealand’s Rebekah Stott and Fiji’s Angeline Rekha ahead of Friday’s semi-final:

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Most New Zealand caps

166 — Ria Percival
159 — Ali Riley
155 — Betsy Hassett
146 — Abby Erceg
133 — Annalie Longo
125 — Amber Hearn
124 — Katie Duncan (nee Hoyle)
120 — Hannah Wilkinson
111 — Rosie White
104 — Kirsty Yallop
103 — Katie Bowen
100 — Sarah Gregorius
98 — Rebekah Stott

*Thanks to UltimateNZSoccer.com for maintaining these statistics.

Squads

New Zealand’s squad has reduced by three players since the tournament started.

Defender Liz Anton (Perth Glory) returned to her club by prior arrangement with the Ferns management.

The Wellington Phoenix midfielder pair of Macey Fraser and Annalie Longo were both forced to return home following injuries.

READ MORE: Injury forces midfielder Macey Fraser out of OFC Women’s Olympic qualifiers >>>>

READ MORE: Midfielder Annalie Longo pulls out of Football Ferns squad ‘as a precaution’ >>>>

Fixtures

Games to be played on Friday February 16, 2024

Semi-finals

Solomon Islands v Samoa
FFS Football Stadium, Apia, 1pm (NZT)

New Zealand v Fiji
FFS Football Stadium, Apia, 5pm (NZT)

Game to be played on Monday February 19, 2024

Final

Winner semi-final 1 v winner semi-final 2
FFS Football Stadium, Apia, 5pm (NZT)

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