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Auckland City FC set for OFC Champions League

Words: ACFC Media

Wednesday 10 May 2023

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC depart for the OFC Champions League 2023 in Vanuatu on Thursday with their sights set on retaining the trophy they won in Auckland last year.

Up for grabs is a place at the last ever edition of the FIFA Club World Cup seven team format, a competition set to be held in Saudi Arabia in December but also on the line could be a berth at the Expanded FIFA Club World Cup in June 2025.

FIFA recently outlined its plans for a 32-club World Cup that could feature 12 clubs from Europe, 6 from South America, 4 each from Asia and Africa and one from Oceania.

The qualification criteria for the Expanded FIFA Club World Cup is measured across the four year cycle between 2021 and 2024.

While there is a lot of noise about that competition, Auckland City FC coach Albert Riera remains very focused on performing well in Vanuatu and retaining the title his team won for the tenth time last year.

“There will be no surprises. We have players with a lot of experience in these tournaments in the islands and others who haven’t been there.

"There are different elements to it, the climate, the heat, players that we’re going to be playing against who we are not used to playing against on a daily basis. Nobody’s easy. It’s very hard actually.

"The main focus is just plan, planning ahead of the Solomon Warriors game this weekend. And that’s actually the best preparation you can have for the OFC Champions League.

"I’ve been in Vanuatu as a player and it’s a great place with great people as well. They love football actually. I think it’s going to be a fantastic tournament. I think they’re going to bring about a great experience.

"We are not going to Port Vila, we are going to Santo (Luganville) But again, it doesn’t make a difference to us. So we are going there to do what we want to try to do, which is play good football and try to win games.”

Missing from the squad this time is the club's all-time highest goalscorer and appearance maker, Emiliano Tade.

The 35-year-old forward has a knee injury and is sidelined for at least the next ten weeks.

Last year, Auckland City FC won the OFC Champions League with five straight wins before losing 3-0 to African giants Al Ahly of Egypt in the FIFA Club World Cup in Tangier, Morocco, in February of this year.

Ends

Extra Information:

INTERVIEW REQUESTS - Interview requests must go through either Attila Mosonyi or Gordon Watson, or via Oceania Football Confederation's Matt Brown. Do not contact coaches or players directly.

Media Contact (New Zealand)
Attila MOSONYI - Media Manager
E: media@aucklandcityfc.com

Media Contact (Vanuatu)
Gordon WATSON - General Manager
E: gm@aucklandcityfc.com
M: Local number to be advised

Fixtures

OFC Champions League - Group A

Sunday 14 May 2023
Solomon Warriors v Auckland City FC
Luganville Soccer City Stadium, Vanuatu
Kick-off: 12h00 local time / 1.00pm NZST
LIVE: Click here for live coverage

Wednesday 17 May 2023
Suva FC v Auckland City FC
Luganville Soccer City Stadium, Vanuatu
Kick-off: 15h00 local time / 4.00pm NZST
LIVE: Click here for live coverage

Saturday 20 May 2023
Auckland City FC v Lupe ole Soaga
Luganville Soccer City Stadium, Vanuatu
Kick-off: 12h00 local time / 1.00pm NZST
LIVE: Click here for live coverage

OFC Champions League - Semi-Finals

Wednesday 24 May 2023
Semi-Final 1
Winner of Group A v Runner-up of Group B
Freshwota Stadium Port Vila, Vanuatu
Kick-off: 11h30 local time / 12.30pm NZST
LIVE: Click here for live coverage

Semi-Final 2
Winner of Group B v Runner-up of Group A
Freshwota Stadium Port Vila, Vanuatu
Kick-off: 15h00 local time / 4.00pm NZST
LIVE: Click here for live coverage

OFC Champions League Final
Winner of SF 1 v Winner of SF2
Freshwota Stadium Port Vila, Vanuatu
Kick-off: 14h00 local time / 3.00pm NZST
LIVE: Click here for live coverage

Auckland City FC squad - Name, ACFC matches, ACFC goals

1. Conor TRACEY (GK) 71 matches, 0 goals
2. Mario ILICH 89 matches, 7 goals
3. Adam MITCHELL 93 matches, 6 goals
4. Christian GRAY 15 matches, 1 goal
5. Michael DEN HEIJER 32 matches, 0 goals
6. Dan MORGAN 68 matches, 8 goals
7. Cam HOWIESON (c) 156 matches, 33 goals
8. Gerard GARRIGA 43 matches, 5 goals
9. Angus KILKOLLY 61 matches, 37 goals
10. Dylan MANICKUM 110 matches, 41 goals
11. Ryan DE VRIES 158 matches, 69 goals
12. Regont MURATI 12 matches, 0 goals
13. Nathan LOBO 33 matches, 2 goals
14. Jordan VALE 107 matches, 7 goals
15. Aidan CAREY 59 matches, 2 goals
16. Joseph LEE 51 matches, 13 goals
19. Liam GILLION 41 matches, 10 goals
22. Tong ZHOU 9 matches, 0 goals
23. Matt ELLIS 21 matches, 10 goals
24. Joe WALLIS (GK) 2 matches, 0 goals

Non-travelling reserves
21. Adam BELL 15 matches, 0 goals

Injured (not participating)
20. Emiliano TADE 231 matches, 151 goals

Coach: Albert RIERA
Assistant coach: Ivan VICELICH
Goalkeeper coach: Enaut ZUBIKARAI
Analyst: Adria CASALS
Physiotherapist: Matt PAYNE
Logistics Manager: Keith COTON
Masseuse: Natalia KOSINSKA
Chef de Mission: Gordon WATSON