Samoa has secured a place in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup for the second time in a row after emerging victorious at the 2026 East Asia-Pacific Qualifier held in Papua New Guinea. The team, led by Olive Lefaga Lemoe, remained undefeated throughout the tournament, defeating Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu, and the hosts to clinch the title.
In a thrilling final match against Fiji, Samoa successfully defended a total of 130 runs, with Avetia Mapu playing a crucial role by scoring an unbeaten 67 from 62 balls. The team’s strong bowling performance restricted Fiji to 72 runs, ensuring their victory and World Cup qualification.
Despite being the tournament favorites, Samoa faced little resistance on their path to victory, starting with a convincing 58-run win over Vanuatu in the opening match. The team continued their winning streak with a 53-run victory against Indonesia before overcoming Papua New Guinea in a challenging encounter.
Under the leadership of Lefaga Lemoe, Samoa is now gearing up to compete in the global event next year, aiming to secure their first victory after narrowly missing out in 2024. They are the first team from the Pacific Ocean region to secure a spot in the World Cup through regional qualifiers, with the next qualifier set to be determined in the Asia region.
