PAPUA New Guinea ends football year on a high after the recent performance of the Prime Minister 11s team in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The team led by rookie coach David Muta and veteran skipper Alwin Komolong had reclaimed the 2024 Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) Cup after defeating Solomon Islands National Team, its Development team and Vanuatu and drew against Fiji to claim 10 points overall.

Prior to this success, the national team (PNG Kapuls) suffered a huge loss at the PNG Football Stadium in November after hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Qualifiers Group A remaining matches.

The national team almost won their match against Fiji however drew 3-all before losing 2-1 against Solomon Islands. Their first group match was played in Fiji where they lost to New Caledonia in October. NCL and Fiji have qualified for the semi finals now set for March 2025 in Auckland against Tahiti and New Zealand.

Meanwhile the Mens Premier Soccer League unleased surprises as underdogs United Highlands FC were deemed dark horses of the competition despite finishing fifth overall. Port Moresby Strikers, Lae City FC, Lae City Dwellers, FC Morobe Wawens had new player inclusions while Manus (Admiralty FC) brought their best to compete. Gulf Komara made their grand final debut against the undefeated Hekari United FC despite a 2-1 loss at the PNG Football Stadium.

Hekari United were also this year’s PNG representatives at the OFC Champions League and will return again for another edition next year. Current champions are Auckland FC of New Zealand.

This year PNG also made history when the national association sent Moukele Beach Soccer Association (MBSA) team as ‘PNG Paewas’ to represent the country at the 2024 OFC Beach Soccer Mens Nations Cup in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

A first pilot project off from the Fisherman Island, the Paewas did not disappoint when they scored the fastest goal through defender Demasol Manama, deemed to be the fastest in international beach soccer history. PNG stunned the Oceania football community when they defeated an experienced Fiji side 8-6 in their opening match.

Additionally the Women’s Conference Soccer League had just kicked off recently in four regions to be inline with OFC sanctioned tournaments by 2025, this includes the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji then followed by the OFC Women’s Champions League in Tahiti. Local competition finals should reach finals by early February 2025.

Hekari United FC Women are the defending champions hoping for a third OFCWCL appearance next year, they were runner’s up in 2023 against ASA Feminine Academy (New Caledonia) on home soil and 2024 against Auckland United (New Zealand).

In the junior competitions, the U17 boys National Youth Soccer League (NYSL) kicked off in three conferences (Southern-Port Moresby; Northern-Lae & NGI-Eastern-Buka) in September and will soon reach finals. This year the national body also sent an U16 girls national team who competed in the OFC U16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers in Auckland, New Zealand in June.

The U19 national team departed the country a month after to compete in the U19 Mens Championships in Apia, Samoa.

Administratively PNGFA’s Member associations have revoted president John Kapi-Natto into office for another four-year term. This also included new and existing regional presidents for their four regional offices among Executive Committee (ExCo) members. This follows after the association hosted its Elective Congress prior to the FIFA Qualifiers kick off in Port Moresby.

Meanwhile OFC has confirmed that the Pro-League is a go with PNG already raising its hand to put a team together and compete in the upcoming professional competitions in 2025 and beyond.