Northern Mariana Islands AFC Challenge Cup fate postponed days after thrashing by Guam

AFC associate member Northern Mariana Islands must wait to learn the opposition for their AFC Challenge Cup qualification debut next year.

The draw was postponed for the 3rd time on Wednesday and will now take place on December 11th. The Northern Mariana Islands have never played in the tournament which is designed for Asia’s ‘emerging nations’. Having made their international debut in 1998 the Pacific Ocean side have lost 10 of their 13 games and the qualifiers will no doubt prove a tough assignment for the non-FIFA team who hope to join the world governing body next year.

NMI (in white) close in on Ian Adamos

A young Northern Mariana Islands team met improving Guam in a friendly in Yona last Saturday (24^th) and were thrashed 8-0, their 2^nd-biggest defeat, and it will serve as a cruel reminder of what challenges they’ll face in March.

Match information –

Score: Guam 8 – 0 Northern Mariana Islands

Scorers: Dylan Naputi 28', Jason Cunliffe 31', 73’, Zachary Deville 34', 70’, Christian Schweizer 57', Ian Adamos 67', Ken Domingo (o.g) 83'.

Northern Mariana Islands XI: Noetzel; Dunn III, Westphal [Zapanta ?], Kim, Domingo; Rosario, Fruit [Yobech ?], Uzuka, Kim, Lee; Miller.