# Vanuatu national under-23 football team

The Vanuatu national under-23 football team, also known as Vanuatu Cyclone and Vanuatu "B", represents Vanuatu at U23 tournaments. The team is considered to be the feeder team for the Vanuatu national football team. They are controlled by the Vanuatu Football Federation. The team has gained notoriety for thrashing Micronesia's side 46–0 in the 2015 Pacific Games.

## History

Vanuatu U23 made four appearances so far at the OFC U23 Championship. Their best result was a third place in 2012. In 2015 they will make their fifth appearance during the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea but before that, they will play a tournament called the Four Nation’s Friendship Cup.

### OFC

The OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament is a tournament held once every four years to decide the only qualification spot for Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and representatives at the Olympic Games.
OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament :
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1991 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1996 | 5th place | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 43 | -38 | 4 |
| 1999 | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
| 2004 | Third place | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 3 | +24 | 9 |
| 2008 | 5th place | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 3 |
| 2012 | Third place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 6 |
| 2015 | Runners-up | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 3 | +48 | 8 |
| 2019 | Third place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2 | +11 | 12 |
| 2023 | Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 12 | –5 | 6 |
| Total | Runners-up | 37 | 15 | 3 | 19 | 121 | 90 | 31 | 48 |

## Current Technical Staff

| Position | |
| Head coach | Etienne Mermer |
| Assistant coach | George Amos |
| Assistant coach | Lauru Wilkins |
| Goalkeeper coach | Jean Yves Galinie |
| Teamamanger | Richard Tatwin |
| Physiotherapist | Daniel Frankem |

## Current squad

The following players were called to the squad for the 2019 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament from 21 September - 5 October 2019. Caps and goals updated as of 5 October 2019 after the match against Fiji.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Daniel Alick | (1998-12-28) 28 December 1998 (age 25) | 4 | 0 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 19 | 1GK | James Chilia | (2001-03-23) 23 March 2001 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Tupuji Imere |
| 20 | 1GK | Joshua Willie | (2000-06-13) 13 June 2000 (age 24) | 0 | 0 | ABM Galaxy |
| 2 | 2DF | Jesse Kalopang | (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26) | 5 | 1 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 3 | 2DF | Waiwo Kalmet | (1999-04-26) 26 April 1999 (age 25) | 0 | 0 | Tafea |
| 4 | 2DF | Jason Thomas | (1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 27) | 5 | 0 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 5 | 2DF | Joseph Iaruel | (1998-01-25) 25 January 1998 (age 26) | 5 | 0 | ABM Galaxy |
| 6 | 2DF | Tasso Jeffrey | (1998-08-12) 12 August 1998 (age 26) | 4 | 0 | Malampa Revivors |
| 12 | 2DF | Lency Philip | (1997-06-08) 8 June 1997 (age 27) | 1 | 0 | Vaum United |
| 13 | 2DF | Selwyn Vatu | (1998-06-13) 13 June 1998 (age 26) | 5 | 0 | ABM Galaxy |
| 14 | 2DF | Mole Mansale | (1997-09-12) 12 September 1997 (age 27) | 0 | 0 | Tupuji Imere |
| 7 | 3MF | Jordy Tasip | (2000-07-14) 14 July 2000 (age 24) | 4 | 1 | Tafea |
| 8 | 3MF | Claude Aru | (1997-04-25) 25 April 1997 (age 27) | 5 | 1 | Malampa Revivors |
| 10 | 3MF | Bong Kalo | (1997-01-18) 18 January 1997 (age 27) | 12 | 4 | ABM Galaxy |
| 15 | 3MF | Armando Ravo | (2002-12-12) 12 December 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Malampa Revivors |
| 16 | 3MF | Ronaldo Wilkins | (1999-12-30) 30 December 1999 (age 24) | 4 | 1 | Shepherds United |
| 17 | 3MF | Bethuel Ollie | (1997-08-19) 19 August 1997 (age 27) | 4 | 0 | Vaum United |
| 18 | 3MF | Jasson Tari | (2000-11-02) 2 November 2000 (age 24) | 0 | 0 | Tafea |
| 9 | 4FW | Johnathan Spokeyjack | (1999-11-13) 13 November 1999 (age 25) | 5 | 1 | Ifira Black Bird |
| 11 | 4FW | Azariah Soromon | (1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 25) | 5 | 4 | Tupuji Imere |

## Squad for the Four Nation’s Friendship Cup

The following players were called to the squad for the 2015 Pacific Games from 3–17 July 2015. Caps and goals updated as of 10 July 2015 after the match against New Zealand.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Seiloni Iaruel | (1995-04-17) 17 April 1995 (age 29) | 13 | 0 | Amicale |
| 20 | 1GK | Anthony Taiwia | (1994-09-04) 4 September 1994 (age 30) | 0 | 0 | Ifira Black Bird |
| 23 | 1GK | Kaloram Firiam | (1994-12-10) 10 December 1994 (age 30) | 0 | 0 | Tafea |
| 2 | 2DF | Chanel Obed | (1995-09-30) 30 September 1995 (age 29) | 9 | 0 | Amicale |
| 5 | 2DF | Junia Vava | (1993-09-13) 13 September 1993 (age 31) | 9 | 0 | Ifira Black Bird |
| 4 | 2DF | Brian Kaltack (c) | (1993-09-30) 30 September 1993 (age 31) | 14 | 3 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 3 | 2DF | Remy Kalsrap | (1996-01-20) 20 January 1996 (age 28) | 9 | 0 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 6 | 2DF | Raoul Coulon | (1995-12-03) 3 December 1995 (age 29) | 9 | 0 | Tupuji Imere |
| 21 | 2DF | Jais Malsarani | (1994-03-07) 7 March 1994 (age 30) | 1 | 0 | Tafea |
| 22 | 2DF | Kevin Shem | (1993-12-05) 5 December 1993 (age 31) | 5 | 0 | Tafea |
| 7 | 3MF | Barry Mansale | (1995-11-01) 1 November 1995 (age 29) | 12 | 6 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 10 | 3MF | Bong Kalo | (1997-01-18) 18 January 1997 (age 27) | 7 | 1 | Lugano |
| 12 | 3MF | Zica Manuhi | (1993-07-23) 23 July 1993 (age 31) | 2 | 1 | Ifira Black Bird |
| 13 | 3MF | Dalong Damalip | (1993-05-12) 12 May 1993 (age 31) | 6 | 2 | Amicale |
| 14 | 3MF | Michel Coulon | (1995-12-03) 3 December 1995 (age 29) | 3 | 0 | Tupuji Imere |
| 15 | 3MF | Nilua Nicky Nikau | (1993-03-04) 4 March 1993 (age 31) | 2 | 2 | Ifira Black Bird |
| 16 | 3MF | Jacky Ruben | (1996-11-10) 10 November 1996 (age 28) | 1 | 0 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 17 | 3MF | Nemani Rogara | (1993-06-09) 9 June 1993 (age 31) | 1 | 0 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 18 | 3MF | Abraham Rogara | (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 30) | 1 | 2 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 8 | 4FW | Bill Nicolls | (1993-06-03) 3 June 1993 (age 31) | 5 | 11 | Tupuji Imere |
| 9 | 4FW | Christopher Andrew | (1993-01-02) 2 January 1993 (age 31) | 8 | 3 | Sia-Raga |
| 11 | 4FW | Jean Kaltack | (1994-08-19) 19 August 1994 (age 30) | 15 | 21 | Erakor Golden Star |
| 19 | 4FW | Tony Kaltack | (1996-03-04) 4 March 1996 (age 28) | 1 | 6 | Erakor Golden Star |

## List of coaches

* Richard Iwai (2012-2015)
* Etienne Mermer (2019-2022)
* George Amos (2022)
* Emerson Alcantara (2022)
* Etienne Mermer (2022-)