"It is a joy to play football and a big joy to score a goal, which I dedicate to my son and my wife. I feel pride for my country and also for my teammates, who did a big job to win this game."
"Yes, we don't have a lot of time before we fly home, but we will prepare our suitcases and go to the airport early. It's no problem. It's the first time New Caledonia has played in Europe and we won, so we are really happy. We don't worry about the journey."
New Caledonia defeated Gibraltar 2-0 in a friendly at Europa Point Stadium, with Germain Haewegene scoring the second goal. The squad traveled to Europe just 72 hours earlier and faces a 30-hour, 12,000-mile return trip, beginning with a 2:30 a.m. bus to the airport. Players traveled with domestic clubs and relied on simple provisions rather than supplements. New Caledonia earned a spot in the March 2026 FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Offs by reaching the Oceania qualifying final after beating Tahiti and losing to New Zealand. The team embraces the experience and the chance to reach the 2026 World Cup.
#new-caledonia-national-team #oceania-qualification #inter-confederation-play-offs #long-distance-travel
Read at ESPN.com
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