Peter Olomaga was appointed as the Referee, Malaetala Sofe as the assistant referee, and Joe Ainuu as the 5th Official for the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2026 Final between New Zealand and Fiji. Their appointments reflect the confidence the Oceania Football Confederation has in the quality, professionalism, and dedication of Samoan match officials.
The trio were part of the officiating team throughout the tournament in Papua New Guinea, where they consistently demonstrated a high standard of match management across the group stage and knockout matches.
Their selection for the championship final is a significant achievement, recognising their commitment, experience, and ability to perform at the highest level of football in Oceania.
Their appointments came during a tournament that also saw Samoa’s U-16 Men’s National Team proudly represent the country in Group A. Samoa opened its campaign against hosts Papua New Guinea before taking on Fiji in its second group match and New Caledonia in its final pool fixture, where the team earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw after taking an early lead.
The young Samoan side then concluded its campaign in the 7th/8th Place Play-off, gaining valuable international experience that will contribute to the continued development of the nation’s future footballers.
While the players showcased Samoa’s talent on the field, the appointments of Peter Olomaga, Malaetala Sofe, and Joe Ainuu highlighted another important success story for Samoan football. Their performances throughout the tournament demonstrated that Samoa continues to produce match officials capable of officiating at the highest level of regional competition.
The Samoa Football Federation congratulates Peter, Malaetala, and Joe on this outstanding achievement. Their appointments to the tournament’s showpiece final are a source of pride for Samoa and serve as an inspiration to the next generation of referees striving to follow in their footsteps.
Their success reflects the continued growth and development of football officiating in Samoa and reinforces the country’s positive contribution to football across Oceania
