The Cook Islands U16 Men’s National Team have kicked off their campaign in style, securing an impressive 4–0 victory over American Samoa in today’s opening match.
The first half saw Team Cooks take control early, with Jayden Angene opening the scoring in the 23rd minute after a well-worked play, finishing calmly off a quality assist from captain Maui Campbell. Just seven minutes later, Angene turned provider, delivering a perfectly weighted through ball to Leo Nand, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net to double the lead at the 30-minute mark.
Momentum continued to build as captain Maui Denny added a third goal right on the stroke of halftime, giving the Cook Islands a commanding 3–0 advantage heading into the break.
In the second half, the team maintained their intensity and composure. Vice Captain Aiga Samania sealed the victory in the 63rd minute, securing the fourth and final goal to cap off a dominant performance.
It was an all-round team effort and a confident start to the tournament for the Cook Islands, setting the tone for the matches ahead.
Attention now turns to their next challenge, where Team Cooks will face host nation Tonga on Friday, 27 March 2026 at 4:00pm (CKT).
CIFA Media
