Auckland City eyeing 11th title

The ten-time champions of Oceania’s premier club competition will be the team to beat at this year’s tournament in Vanuatu

- STEVE MENARY

Holders Auckland City are favourites to retain their OFC Champions League crown, but moving the finals from New Zealand to Vanuatu should create a more interesting tournament.

The competition was first staged back in 1987 as the Oceania Club Championship, with four more editions taking place from1999 to 2006 when Australia left the OFC. A year later the tournament changed name to the Champions League.

Auckland City won their first title in 2006 and have gone on to dominate the competition with a total of ten victories, accounting for all but three of New Zealand’s total titles. Only Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United in 2010 and New Caledonia’s Hienghene Sport in 2019 have broken the run of Kiwi dominance.

This year’s hosts have produced three finalists in the past: Tafea, edged out1-0 by Australia’s Wollongong Wolves in 2001, and Amicale, who were beaten by Auckland City in 2011 and again three years later.

Back then, the title was decided over two legs home and away, but this year’s finals will all be played in Vanuatu with two groups of four and winners and runners-up progressing to the semi-finals.