Vanuatu squad packed with talent

Head coach Moise Poida has announced a strong squad for the upcoming OFC U-20 Championship, which takes place at Auckland's Centre Park from April 21 to 29.

The talented line-up features a number of players who have enjoyed impressive seasons in senior competition the TVL Premier League, such as Tupuji Imere striker Frank Silas.

But there are injury clouds surrounding several key players and Poida is hoping they will be back to full fitness by the time of Vanuatu's first match, against American Samoa on April 21.

A total of seven Pacific nations will take part in the tournament and have been divided into two groups, one featuring four teams and the other consisting of three.

Group A includes Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and American Samoa while Group B contains Solomon Islands, New Zealand and New Caledonia.

There will be three days of action in the group stages and each day will feature three games.

The teams in both groups will play each other once, with those in Group B also having one bye.

The top two sides in each group will then square off in the semi finals on Wednesday 27 April. The 3rd/4th playoff and grand final will be held on Friday 29 April.

The winner of the OFC U-20 Championship will represent Oceania at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which takes place in Colombia from July 29 to August 20.