Oman eye on playoff spot in the concluding round against Palestine
MUSCAT: Oman will eye to secure the last available slot for the playoff in group B as they will meet Palestine in a tight clash on Tuesday at King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman city in the concluding round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26.
The match will kick off at 10:15 pm (Oman time). With just one point separating the two sides, Oman sits ahead in the standings and requires only a draw to confirm their place in the next round of the qualifiers.
Palestine, on the other hand, will be in a must-win situation as they aim to continue their historic run in their first-ever appearance at this stage of AFC World Cup Qualifying.
Oman player during the training session
The Red Warriors, under the leadership of head coach Rasheed Jaber worked very hard to close the chapter on their previous 3-0 defeat to Jordan last Thursday. The result which ended their hopes of automatic qualification.
Training sessions since the team's arrival in Amman have been focused on tactical refinement and psychological readiness, with a clear goal to deliver a determined performance and secure passage to the playoff stage, where two additional tickets to the 2026 Fifa World Cup remain up for grabs. Coach Rasheed Jaber, who confirmed the final squad following Monday's training session, expressed confidence in his players: 'We are still in the race. Our focus now is fully on Palestine. I asked the players to give their best, maintain concentration and aim for the result that ensures our qualification,' Jaber said.
Oman players during the training session
Oman will be boosted by the return of Mohsin al Ghassani adding firepower to the attacking line. However, the team will be without the services of the experienced player Ali al Busaidy who was suspended due to card accumulation.
Ahmed al Kaabi is expected to slot into the backline while Al Mundher al Alawi is likely to be deployed in midfield to strengthen Oman's core.
Palestine arrived at this fixture in strong form following their earned back-to-back victories, including a crucial 2-0 win over Kuwait last Thursday.
Head coach Rasheed Jaber C) and the coaching staff
Head coach Ihab Abu Jazar will look to capitalize on that momentum and deliver another spirited performance. Oman's attacking midfielder Salah al Yahyaei emphasised the team's readiness.
'We have put the Jordan match behind us. Our full focus is on Palestine. Despite having two chances including victory or a draw, we are aiming to win. Palestine is a strong side, but we are prepared and we count on our fans' support.'
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