Junior Pepes miss out on World Youth Cup 2025

Papua New Guinea Junior Pepes have missed out on qualifying for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup after they finished fourth in the Oceania Qualifier.

The regional qualifier which was held in Cook Islands last week saw Samoa being crowned the champions following an undefeated run.

Tonga and host nation finished second and third respectively whilst PNG tailed the bottom of the tournament.

Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands have secured their spot in next year’s World Youth Cup which will be held from September 19-28 in Gibraltar.

According to the qualification process, only the top three countries from each of the regional qualifiers will qualify for the major event in Europe.

PNG were two points shy of earning a place in the Under-21 competition after they narrowly went down to the hosts, 62-64 in the third-place playoff.

The Junior Pepes side despite featuring a host of Australian-based players, lost the opening match to the home team in a 45-63 scorelines.

Hopes of rebounding in second game were denied by the champions, Samoa, who dominated the game with a 65-43 victory.

PNG U21 team guided by head coach Oti Lasagavibau and assistant Renagi Mulina tried all avenues to produce a positive result, but the sister Pacific Islands opponents were too strong to handle.

The Lasagavibau-coached PNG group faced Tonga in the third encounter but couldn’t manage to pick up their feet as the Junior Tala team crushed Pepes academy 65-37.

After the round games were completed, PNG and Cook Islands competed in the third-place playoff whilst Samoa and Tonga vied for the title.

PNG’s hope for a third-place finish were shattered by Cook Islands in a thriller which saw Pepes almost cause an upset, but the home team held on with a 2-point win.