Oman rout Niger ahead of World Cup qualifiers
MUSCAT: With just two matches left in the crucial third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers in June, Oman signalled their intent with a dominant 4-1 victory over Niger in a closed-door friendly on Tuesday night, held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex as part of their ongoing domestic training camp.
The Red Warriors, coached by Omani Rasheed Jaber, produced an assured attacking performance, led by the rising star Tariq Al Saadi, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 25th minute. Midfielder Mohammed Al Ghafri added a quickfire brace just before and after the break (45', 46'), while Mohsin Al Ghassani rounded off the scoring with another penalty in the 86th minute.
Niger's lone goal came in the first half, with Oman holding a 3-1 lead at the interval.
The match offered valuable playing time for several squad members, with head coach Jaber making seven second-half substitutions.
Among those introduced were goalkeeper AbdulMalik Al Badri (Al Shabab Club), Hatim Al Roushdi, Yousef Al Malki, Ahed Al Mashakheyi, Hussain Al Shahri, Issa Al Naabi, and Mohammed Abdulhakeem.
The rotation helped test tactical flexibility and improve cohesion as Oman sharpen their focus ahead of the must-win qualifiers.
'The goal was to test depth, fine-tune our attacking transitions, and reinforce defensive discipline,' said coach Jaber, who alongside assistant Yaqoob Al Sabahi, continues to assess form and fitness in the build-up to June's double-header against Jordan (June 5 in Muscat) and Palestine (June 10, away in Jordan).
However, Oman's preparations have been dealt a setback with the injury to first-choice goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini, who fractured a finger in his left hand. The national team's medical staff confirmed a four-week recovery period, ruling him out of the remaining qualifiers. In response, Jaber has called up Ahmed Al Rawahi and Motasim Al Wahaibi to reinforce the goalkeeping department.
Four nations remain in the mix for direct qualification in Group B, with South Korea, Jordan, Iraq and Oman all putting their hopes on the line in June's final two matches.
The Koreans will seal their spot on 5 June should they avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra. Jordan, meanwhile, will qualify for a first World Cup on the same day should they defeat Oman in Muscat and Iraq lose against South Korea.
With two rounds remaining, Oman sit fourth with 10 points from eight matches. South Korea lead the group with 16 points, followed by Jordan (13), Iraq (12), and Oman (10). Palestine (6) and Kuwait (5) complete the table. The top two teams will progress to the final round of World Cup qualifying.
Oman's recent form – two wins from their last three games – suggests growing momentum, but qualification hinges on back-to-back victories. The June 5 clash against Jordan at home is being billed as a do-or-die fixture, and a positive result could set up a decisive finale against Palestine.
As the Red Warriors prepare for the final stretch, belief remains strong in the camp. The commanding win over Niger may have been a friendly, but it offered more than just confidence — it served as a reminder that Oman still have the tools, talent, and tenacity to fight for a place on the road to 2026.
Oman play their final warm-up game against Lebanon on May 28 ahead of their match against Jordan at home.
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