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Observer
a day ago
- General
- Observer
Oman host Jordan for AFC Asian and WC Qualifiers
MUSCAT, JUNE 4 Red Warriors will eye for a triumph as they will host Jordan in a decisive clash on Thursday night at Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex for AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 in Group B. The match will begin at 8:00 pm. With the race for direct qualification to the Fifa World Cup 2026 heating up, the match has been dubbed a must-win by both sides. Oman will aim to utilise the fans support and home ground advantage in this essential crunch which act as match booster for reviving the hopes of earning a direct qualification berth into next year's Fifa World Cup. Essam al Subhi and his teammates managed to earn four crucial points from their March fixtures including a 1-1 draw in Seoul and 1-0 win over Kuwait which point Oman in fourth position with ten points and by three points behind Jordan who occupy the second automatic spot in the group. Red Warriors, who are chasing up for their historic first appearance on the global stage, will enter this fixture with a mixed squad of experienced and young faces as coach Rasheed will depend on different key players including: Ali al Busaidy, Ahmed al Khamisi, Harib al Saadi, Fayez al Rushaidi, Esam al Subhi, Al Mundher al Alawi, Jameel al Yhamadi and other players in the squad. Oman played two successful friendly matches behind closed doors including a 4-1 win against Niger and a 1-0 victory over Lebanon, with the team showing clear progress in attacking fluidity and defensive structure. In contrast, Jordan's recent friendly ended in a 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia last Friday with goals from Hassan al Tambakti and Muhanad al Saad. On the other side, the opponent team will be looking forward for the victory as the triumph will remain them firmly in the driver's seat going into their final matchday clash with Iraq. Jordan are currently one point ahead of Iraq, who will play table-toppers South Korea on Thursday and victory will set them up nicely for Tuesday's showdown with Iraq in Amman. Jordan coach will depend on the key players especially return of Ali Olwan beside attendance of Yazen Emad, Moosa Tamari and the rest of Jordanian players. Essential Game Oman head coach Rasheed Jaber voiced confidently in the match that the team are in best shape for the game. ' It is very important match and we can call this is as world cup game. Each team has its own goals and I need from my players to deliver their top efforts and full focus during the match. Jordan team considered as very dangerous in attacking side but we are ready for the game. Everyone in the team are very ambitious and fully confident to perfrom top game,' he said ' The crowd will be our energy. Their support can make the difference in these 90 critical minutes,' he ended Goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi, one of the team's most experienced players, echoed this sentiment: 'This is a decisive match. We learned a lot from previous games and now is the time to show our strength. We are ready and we need the fans with us throughout the match.' On the opposing side, Jordan, coached by Jamal Selami, are equally aware of the magnitude of the tie. Selami confident on his squad and he highlighted on the return of Ali Olwan and the presence of stars like Yazan Emad and Moosa Tamari. 'It is a tough game against a strong Oman side playing at home. But our preparations went according to plan. The Saudi match helped simulate Oman's environment. Apart from Ihsan Haddad, who's out with injury, we have a complete squad ready to compete.' said Selami Jordan's striker Ali Olwan, who recently returned from injury, shared his thoughts:' This is an essential match. I am glad to be back and grateful to the medical and coaching staff for helping me recover. I wish Ihsan a quick recovery and we are ready to give everything.'
Observer
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman edge Lebanon in final tune-up match
MUSCAT: The Oman national football team edged Lebanon 1-0 in the second closed-door friendly match on Wednesday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The win provided a crucial morale boost ahead of the decisive upcoming fixtures in the Fifa World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers against Jordan on June 5 in Muscat and Palestine on June 10. The only goal of the match came early in the 4th minute as striker of Iraq's Al Quwa Al Jawiya, Essam al Subhi, calmly converted a low pass inside the penalty area, firing past Lebanese goalkeeper Mustafa Matar. The goal was as a result of quick teamwork and clinical finishing which gave the Red Warriors an early edge that they held onto until the final whistle. Oman and Lebanon players in action Under the leadership of head coach Rasheed Jaber, Oman team players displayed strong dominance in the first half, with noticeable harmony among the starting lineup. The well-structured midfield and cohesive backline helped the team maintain control of the tempo throughout the opening 45 minutes. Lebanon pushed hard in the second half in an attempt to equalise but Red Warriors solid defensive line stood firm. Despite sustained pressure, the visiting side was unable to breach the defense, thanks to well-timed tackles and excellent positioning across all the three lines. During the match, the coaching staff made various substations to stand on the player's technical capabilities and evaluate their final readiness. Oman and Lebanon players in action Coach Rasheed Jaber began the match with the a starting lineup that featured from Fayez al Rushaidi as a goalie; a defensive line comprising from Thani al Rushaidi, Ali al Busaidy, Ahmed al Khamisi and Khalid al Buraiki. The midfielders were Abdulrahman al Mushaifri, Arshad al Alawi, Jameel al Yahmadi and Harib al Saadi while Hamed al Habsi and Essam al Subhi leading the front line. The win served as a morale booster for the national team as they head into two pivotal World Cup qualifying matches against Jordan on June 5 in Muscat and it will be followed by a clash with Palestine on June 10 in Amman city, Jordan.
Observer
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Red Warriors back to training for WC preparations
MUSCAT, MAY 24 Oman team back to action on Friday night at Seeb Stadium marking the next phase of preparations for their upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures after two days rest provided by the coaching staff following the friendly match against Niger which ended for Oman by 4-1. The training venue was shifted from the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex to Seeb Stadium as per the coaching staff's decision. The Red Warriors will continue their final warm-up sessions at Seeb until the official pre-match training for the Jordan clash, which will be held back at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. Essam al Subhi (Al Quwa Al Jawiya, Iraq) and Al Mundher al Alawi (Al Zawra Club) joined the training sessions on Saturday night while Salah al Yahyaei (Al Khalidiya SC, Bahrain) is expected to join the squad by May 29. Meanwhile, Friday's session saw the participation of goalkeepers Ahmed al Rawahi and Motasim al Wahaibi, both of whom were recently called up by head coach Rasheed Jaber to replace the injured Ibrahim al Mukhaini, who is undergoing a four-week treatment period after sustaining a finger injury to his left hand. Mohsin al Ghassani (Bangkok United SC), who has completed his season in the Thai League, is already training with the squad, alongside promising newcomer Tariq al Saadi (UE Sant Andreu SC, Spain). Both players found the net in the recent friendly win over Niger, underlining their form and readiness. As part of their buildup, Oman will face Lebanon in a closed-door friendly on Tuesday at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex and the match will start at 8:00 pm. This fixture will serve as the final test for the national side before the two decisive matches in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers—against Jordan at home on June 5, followed by an away game against Palestine on June 10 in Jordan. With the qualifiers fast approaching, the team is set to enter an intensive training program under the leadership of Coach Rasheed Jaber. Upcoming sessions will focus on attacking transitions, reinforcing defensive organization, and improving tactical cohesion across all lines of play. Riding the momentum from back-to-back strong performances in March, the Red Warriors are determined to carry their form into the final qualifiers. The home clash against Jordan on June 5 is viewed as a pivotal encounter that could reignite Oman's qualification hopes and set the stage for a dramatic final showdown against Palestine on June 10.
