7 days ago
Oman Olympic U-23 conclude Russia camp
MUSCAT: The Oman Olympic U-23 national football team has concluded their ten-day overseas training camp in Russia with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Saturn Ramenskoye FC in their final friendly match on Tuesday. This external camp formed a key phase in the team's preparations for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers.
During the Russia camp, Oman played a total of three friendly matches — two against the Russia Olympic team and one against Saturn Ramenskoye FC. The first match ended in a 1-0 loss for Oman, followed by a goalless draw in the second encounter. The final match against Saturn Ramenskoye FC also concluded with a 1-0 result in favor of the hosts.
Oman and Saturn Ramenskoye FC player fight for the ball
Despite the match results, Oman's technical staff, led by head coach Bader al Maimani, considered the camp a success. The coaching team used the friendlies to assess player readiness, experiment with lineups and address both offensive and defensive strategies. Furthermore, the players gained valuable experience competing against strong international sides and the camp enhanced team cohesion and on-field communication.
The Oman Olympic U-23
The camp was part of Oman's broader preparations for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers where they will compete in Group F alongside Iraq, Pakistan and hosts Cambodia. The qualification matches will run from September 1 to 9, with Oman opening their campaign against Cambodia on September 3, facing Iraq on September 6 and concluding against Pakistan on September 9. The group winners and the best four runners-up across all groups will qualify for the finals, joining the host nation Saudi Arabia. Prior to the Russia camp, Oman completed a domestic training phase in Muscat in May and the internal camp featured two warm-up matches including a 2-1 loss to the Royal Court Affairs team and a goalless draw with the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO).
