New Caledonia celebrate historic goal

Nigeria scored ten goals in Group F on Sunday afternoon, but none were celebrated more than New Caledonia’s solitary strike in their 10-1 defeat in Lodz, Poland. The country’s first goal at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™ was by far the most celebrated at the Stadion Miejski LKS Lodz.

It came in the 89th minute, when Joceline Kourevi tried her luck from outside the area, sending the ball over Nigerian goalkeeper Bright Effiong Etim, who had come on midway through the second half in place of starter Christiana Uzoma.

“It’s a source of great pride for my country. I’m very happy because it’s also my first [World Cup] goal. It’s the first time we’ve played at a Women’s World Cup, and we’re a small nation. It’s a huge source of pride for all of us. Thank you to our country for the support,” Kourevi said, speaking to FIFA.

This was not New Caledonia’s first goal at a FIFA World Cup, as the men had previously scored three times at the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in 2017 and 2025. However, it was the first-ever New Caledonian goal at a FIFA women’s tournament.

Even so, Kourevi walked down the tunnel towards the dressing room as if it were an ordinary day, carrying boxes of bottles to help the delegation while shyly accepting hugs from strangers who stopped to congratulate her.

Midfielder Kheimera Gonou, for example, made it clear that her team-mate’s goal meant much more than just a number on the scoreboard in their final match of the tournament. For New Caledonia, it was the end of a campaign that had seen them lose 5-0 to China PR, 11-0 to Spain and now 10-1 to Nigeria.

“For New Caledonian football, today was a historic beginning. We’re very proud, and it was already a great achievement for such a small country to be playing at a World Cup. Even though we’re a more modest team, we scored a historic goal and set an example for our younger sisters back in New Caledonia,” she said.

Having been eliminated from the competition, New Caledonia now bid farewell to the tournament. Nigeria will face England in the Round of 16, on 17 September, in Bielsko-Biala.