Alex Saniel
Vanuatuan footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alex Saniel (born 8 November 1996) is a Vanuatuan footballer who plays as a forward for Vanuatu United FC[1] and the Vanuatu national team.[2]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Alex Jason Saniel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 November 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Port Vila, Vanuatu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Vanuatu United FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| –2013 | Teouma Academy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Spirit 08 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Yatel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Spirit 08 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Fencibles United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Ifira Black Bird | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Fencibles United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Shepherds United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Papatoetoe AFC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Lautoka | 3 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Franklin United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2025 | Suva | 17 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026– | Vanuatu United FC | 11 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Vanuatu U17 | 5 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Vanuatu U20 | 5 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017– | Vanuatu | 24 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 February 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Saniel started his career with the Teouma Academy, the national academy of Vanuatu. After stints with Yatel and Spirit 08 he went to New Zealand to play with the Fencibles United.[3] In the end of 2016 after the season with Fencibles he returned home, where he immediately joined Ifira Black Bird for the Super League. In 2017 he returned to the Fencibles with whom he won the 2017 Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2. After that he joined Shepherds United in August 2017 to make a chance for the Vanuatu national football team. In 2019 he played for Papatoetoe AFC in Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Conference League. He also defended Fijian club Lautoka in 2019 Pacific Cup.[4] In November 2019, it was announced that Alex Saniel is going to play for Franklin United in 2020.[1]
In January 2020 he joined Fijian club Lautoka.[5] In 2021 he moved to Suva.[6]
Saniel joined the OFC Pro League side Vanuatu United FC in 2026, where he scored the opening goal in the new era of professional Oceanian football.[7]
National team
In 2017 Saniel was called up for the Vanuatu national football team. He made his debut on November 23, 2017, in a 1–0 loss against Estonia when he played the whole 90 minutes.[8]
International goals
- Scores and results list Vanuatu's goal tally first.[9]
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2 December 2017 | Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu |  New Caledonia | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2017 Pacific Mini Games |
Honours
Player
Vanuatu
- OFC Nations Cup: runner-up 2024[10]
- Pacific Mini Games: 2017[11][12]
- MSG Prime Minister's Cup: 2025[13][14]; 3rd place 2023[15]
