# Papua New Guinea national under-23 soccer team

The Papua New Guinea national under-23 soccer team, also known as PNG U23, represents Papua New Guinea at U23 tournaments. The team is considered to be the feeder team for the Papua New Guinea national soccer team

## History

PNG U23 made five appearances so far at the OFC U23 Championship. Their best result was third place, achieved at the 2015 Pacific Games.

### 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 | Fourth place | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 19 | -15 | 1 |
| 1996 | 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 |
| 1999 | Fourth place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 3 |
| 2004 | Group Stage | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 21 | -14 | 1 |
| 2008 | Fourth place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 6 |
| 2012 | Fourth place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| 2015 | Semi-finals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| 2019 | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 3 |
| 2023 | Group Stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
| Total | Semi-Finals | 32 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 46 | 94 | -48 | 20 |

## Current technical staff

| Position | |
| Head coach | Warren Moon |
| Assistant coach | David Muta |
| Team manager | Gordon Manub |

## 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 28 September 2019 after the match against the Tonga.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Jordan Tobem | (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 27) | 2 | 0 | Morobe United |
| 18 | 1GK | Jonathan Pole | (1999-01-19) 19 January 1999 (age 26) | 1 | 0 | Morobe United |
| 20 | 1GK | Jerry Seriba | (1999-05-15) 15 May 1999 (age 25) | 1 | 0 | Kagua Erave |
| 2 | 2DF | Peter Dabinyaba Jr. | (1997-03-23) 23 March 1997 (age 27) | 3 | 0 | Vitiaz United |
| 3 | 2DF | Carlos Onne | (1999-07-04) 4 July 1999 (age 25) | 3 | 0 | Hekari United |
| 4 | 2DF | Gimale Essacu | (1997-07-04) 4 July 1997 (age 27) | 4 | 0 | Western Illinois University |
| 5 | 2DF | Rupa Amil | (1997-10-01) 1 October 1997 (age 27) | 1 | 0 | Gulf Komara |
| 14 | 2DF | Gabby Yanum | (1997-02-05) 5 February 1997 (age 27) | 3 | 0 | Bougainville |
| 17 | 2DF | Edward Joshua | (1999-01-04) 4 January 1999 (age 26) | 1 | 0 | Lae City |
| | 2DF | Felix Komolong | (1997-03-06) 6 March 1997 (age 27) | 6 | 0 | Lae City |
| 6 | 3MF | Timothy Mali | (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 (age 26) | 0 | 0 | FC Bougainville |
| 7 | 3MF | Gregory Togubai | (1998-03-22) 22 March 1998 (age 26) | 3 | 3 | Hekari United |
| 8 | 3MF | Freddy Kepo | (1998-04-19) 19 April 1998 (age 26) | 3 | 2 | Hekari United |
| 11 | 3MF | Bernard Purari | (1997-05-10) 10 May 1997 (age 27) | 3 | 1 | Bougainville |
| 12 | 3MF | Emmanuel Simongi | (2000-09-25) 25 September 2000 (age 24) | 3 | 1 | Kutubu |
| 13 | 3MF | Joseph Waiwai | (2001-03-07) 7 March 2001 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Star Mountain |
| 15 | 3MF | Yagi Yasasa | (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 24) | 3 | 0 | Vitiaz United |
| 19 | 3MF | Ernest Gwaitep | (1997-12-22) 22 December 1997 (age 27) | 2 | 0 | Lae City |
| 9 | 4FW | Pokana Mea | (1997-05-14) 14 May 1997 (age 27) | 2 | 0 | Gulf Komara |
| 10 | 4FW | Franck Toboroyan | (1997-10-06) 6 October 1997 (age 27) | 0 | 0 | Hekari United |
| 16 | 4FW | Tyran Vapara | (1997-07-24) 24 July 1997 (age 27) | 3 | 0 | Southern Strikers |

## List of coaches

* Frank Farina (2012)
* Flemming Serritslev (2015)
* Percy Mataio (2019)
* Santiago Marina (2022-2023)
* Warren Moon (2023-present)