Oman eye on playoff spot in the concluding round against Palestine
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
3 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Former Pakistan cricket team captain loves peaceful Oman
Muscat: Former Pakistan cricket Team captain and veteran batter Syed Inzamam ul Haq was on a short trip to Muscat to take part in the Pakistan's Independence Day celebration organised by the Embassy of Pakistan at Inter City Hotel on Wednesday. Coming to Oman after a gap of almost 33 years, Inzamam was glad to see the city and many things almost in the same shape, as he saw way back in 1992-93. Even though this was a two-day trip, the former Pakistan team captain fell in instant love with the peaceful nature of the city and he decided that he will make another trip to the country. He said that he has heard about the natural beauty of the Sultanate of Oman, and desired to explore the entire country soon. When asked about the dismal state of Pakistan cricket, he said that while looking at the encounter against West Indies in Trinidad which they lost by 202 runs, the condition of this team doesn't look good. 'But it's good that younger people are getting an opportunity. They are a talented lot and can perform better in the future. What I feel today is that whenever a team is made, it's a combination of juniors and seniors. If you maintain a proper balance between these two, Insallah the performance of the team will improve day by day. 'The main problem with the players today is that they are lacking confidence. In cricket, even if a player is very talented, if he feels that after playing two or three matches, he will be thrown out, his performance will go down.' He said that there is no dearth of talent in the Pakistan team, they are only lacking confidence. Babar is also suffering from a similar problem, he said, adding when you play for very long, a bad patch will definitely come in your career. 'Babar is a world class player, he needs your backing. If you support him, he will bounce back to form soon and perform much better than in the past,' Inzamam concluded.
Observer
12 hours ago
- Observer
Red Warriors gear up for Türkiye WC Camp
MUSCAT, AUG 16 Oman's national football team, the Red Warriors, will embark on an important stage of their preparation journey as they will travel to Türkiye on Wednesday for a week-long external training camp. The camp, announced earlier by head coach Carlos Queiroz during his first press conference, will form a critical part of the build-up to the decisive AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026. The Türkiye camp will run for seven days, after which the squad will fly directly to Uzbekistan to take part in the upcoming Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations League 2025, scheduled to kick off from August 26 to September 9. Oman has been drawn in Group A alongside host nation Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Group B consists of Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and India, following Malaysia's withdrawal. According to Hussain al Zadjali, a member of the national team's administrative staff, discussions are ongoing with several Turkish clubs to arrange friendly matches during the camp. Among the proposed fixtures is a friendly scheduled for August 26, though official confirmation from the Turkish side is still awaited. Such matches will provide Oman with valuable competitive exposure and help head coach Queiroz further evaluate his squad under match conditions. The Portuguese tactician, who was recently appointed as the Red Warriors' head coach and technical manager, is expected to announce his second squad for the camp following the completion of the first round of the Oman Elite League, which commenced on Saturday. This timing may allow him to observe local players in competitive action before finalising his choices. However, the camp in Türkiye will not feature some of Oman's overseas-based professional players. Striker Mohsin al Ghassani, currently playing in Thailand for the Bangkok United club, will not join the camp due to club commitments. Midfielder Al Munther al Alawi, a key figure for Jordan's Al Wahdat, is also unavailable, alongside Khalid al Buraiki and Abdulrahman al Mushefri, both of whom are plying their trade with FC Artis Brno in the Czech Republic. Their absence, though significant, will open the door for young local talents to impress Queiroz and stake a claim for a spot in the final roster for the qualifiers. The Turkish camp is being seen as a vital stepping stone in Oman's broader strategy to build momentum ahead of the crucial AFC qualifiers in October, where the national team will face Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in Group A matches hosted in Doha in the coming October. Coach Queiroz already underlined the importance of instilling discipline, tactical awareness and physical readiness in the squad. The Türkiye camp will therefore focus not only on fitness and tactical drills but also on strengthening team cohesion, especially as the squad will continue to integrate new faces from the Olympic team. As the countdown to the qualifiers is underway, the Red Warriors' preparations are steadily intensifying. The Türkiye camp will represent an opportunity for the squad to test themselves, refine their strategies and align with Queiroz's vision as Oman will seek to achieve the dream of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Seeb Club aim for historic AFC Champions League group stage spot
Muscat: 2022 AFC Cup champions Seeb Club are set for another major step in their continental journey as they face India's FC Goa in a decisive playoff on Wednesday for a coveted place in the AFC Champions League group stage. The match will be held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, kicking off at 6pm (Oman time). A victory would make Seeb the first Omani club to reach the group stage of the competition under its new format. Led by experienced Romanian coach Valeriu Tița, the Muscat-based team has been in Goa since Saturday, adjusting to local conditions and refining their tactical approach. Tița has placed particular focus on attacking efficiency, urging his forwards to take their chances and avoid wasteful finishing.
