Red Warriors gear up for final group ties at WC Qualifiers
Muscat: The Oman national football team were supposed to play an international friendly match against Niger on Monday at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex as part of the team's preparations for the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 but the match postponed until further notice as the guest team did not arrive to Muscat.
On the other side, the team players raised their warm up sessions at the underway domestic camp which started on February 22. The local camp was an opportunity for the coaching staff to monitor the players physical and technical level ahead of the scheduled matches against South Korea and Kuwait on 20 and 25 March respectively as part of Group B games in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26.
Red Warriors gear up for final group ties at WC Qualifiers
Coach Rasheed Jaber and his assistant Yaqoob al Sabahi implemented various technical tactics to boost attacking side of the team and enhancing the defending area. The current Red Warriors gathering featured attendance of some new faces including three players from first division league like: Issa al Nabi and Mundher al Wahiabi (Muscat club) beside Ridhwan al Syiabi from Samayel club beside Al Khabourah player Al Faraj al Kiyuomi. The new players performed top shows and confirmed their eligibility to be part of the national team. Three different venues where Oman team players executed their technical practices during this camp including Royal Court Affairs stadium in Al Khoudh, Seeb Stadium and Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
Red Warriors gear up for final group ties at WC Qualifiers
Oman, now with six points in the group, and they will aim to bounce back strongly in the qualifiers after their defeat against Iraq by 1-0 last November. Red Warriors focus will be to vie for the third and fourth places as this will lead to another phase of competitions ahead of the World Cup in Mexico, USA and Canada next summer. Iraq has bolstered their chances of claiming one of the top two spots in Group B beside Jordan while South Korea almost confirmed their spot in the World Cup. Oman will face a challenging away fixture against group leaders South Korea in Seoul on March 20 and five days later they will meet Kuwait in Kuwait city.
Oman Squad:
Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Ibrahim al Rajhi, Abdulmalik al Badri, Khalid al Buraiki, Ghanim al Habshi, Thani al Rushedi, Majid Salim, Khalid al Ghtrefi, Musab al Shaqsi, Harib al Saadi, Abdullah Fawaz, Ahed al Mashakeyhi, Al Faraj al Kiumi, Ridhwan al Siyabi, Mulham al Sunaidi, Issa al Nabi, Ahmed al Kaabi, Yousef al Malki, Husain al Shahri, Mohammed al Ghafri, Abdul Salam al Shukaili, Nasser al Rawahi, Mundher al Wahaibi, Nasser al Naimi, Mohammed al Subiai and Hatim al Roushdi.
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