Red Warriors in Group A in Asian Nations League
The Oman national football team clubbed with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan in Group A of the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations League 2025. The draw of the Asian event took place on Thursday in Dushanbe city, Tajikistan. The tournament will be co-hosted in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan during August 26 to September 9.
The Oman Football Association confirmed participation of the national team in the upcoming CAFA Nations League 2025. This marks Oman's second consecutive appearance in the tournament, following their participation in the inaugural edition in 2023.
The 2025 edition will see the tournament co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan with eight teams divided into two groups. Oman will vie for a slot for the knockout stage as they compete in Group A alongside Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan while in group which will feature Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Malaysia teams.
Oman, a member of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF), continue to build on its international presence by taking part in this regional competition against member nations from the Central Asian Football Association, as well as other invited teams. Malaysia, representing the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), join as a special invitee, replacing Russia following their withdrawal from the tournament. The CAFA Nations League is part of the broader objective to increase competitive exposure for participating teams. In the 2023 inaugural edition, Iran emerged as champions after defeating hosts Uzbekistan 1-0 in the final.
Oman's participation in the tournament are inline with the team's extended preparation strategy ahead of the next critical round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026 as the Red Warriors will aim to secure one of the remaining playoff spots for the global showpiece. On the other hand, the coaching staff are working for an alternative camp as the scheduled domestic camp in Salalah for July postponed for a comprehensive technical and administrative review by the OFA's technical committee. According to OFA, the review will include complete evaluation on the previous phase, examining past performance strategies, and assessing outcomes to ensure the best possible preparation for the upcoming period.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
16 hours ago
- Observer
Ali al Habsi appointed technical adviser for development at OFA
MUSCAT: nIn a move that underscores its strategic focus on enhancing the development of football in the Sultanate of Oman, the Oman Football Association (OFA) has appointed Ali bin Abdullah al Habsi as Technical Adviser for Development. Al Habsi, who is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in Omani sports, brings with him invaluable expertise following a distinguished football career that spanned more than two decades. Al Habsi was Born in Muscat, he began his career at Al Mudhaibi Club before joining Al Nasr. His early promise led to a historic move to Europe, making him the first goalkeeper from the Gulf region to play in the English Premier League. He represented top-tier clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic — where he was part of the FA Cup-winning squad in 2013 — and Reading FC, where he was twice named Player of the Season. On the international stage, Al Habsi earned over 130 caps with the Oman national team and played a key role in their Gulf Cup victory in 2009, where he was named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament. Since his retirement in 2020, Al Habsi has remained committed to the development of football in Oman. In his new advisory role, he is expected to focus on nurturing emerging talent, supporting technical staff, and advising on long-term strategies to boost Oman's football competitiveness. The OFA's decision to bring Al Habsi on board reflects a forward-looking vision aimed at sustainable sporting excellence.
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Oman drop two spots in Fifa ranking for July
MUSCAT: The national football team dropped two positions in the latest Fifa World Rankings which was released on Thursday. Red Warriors placed at the 79th globally with 1323.91 points compared to 81st position and 1314.41 points in the previous rankings published earlier this year. The updated standings reflect the outcomes of Oman's recent performances in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026, where the Red Warriors faced two crucial encounters that shaped their campaign. Despite a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Jordan in Muscat, the team bounced back in dramatic style as they secured a 1-1 draw against Palestine in their final Group B match, thanks to a late penalty equaliser from striker Issam al Subhi. That decisive goal ensured Oman's progression to the playoff round and keeping their World Cup hopes alive. The team's initially scheduled a comprehensive domestic training camp in Salalah from July 1 to 19, aimed at refining the squad's readiness for the next phase. However, the Oman Football Association (OFA) recently announced the postponement of this camp. In an official statement issued on July 1, the OFA explained that the postponement decision was made in light of an ongoing comprehensive technical and administrative review conducted by its Technical Committee. This internal evaluation is part of the association's broader goal to enhance the quality of work and planning across the national teams. The review includes studying the past performance strategy, assessing the outcomes of the last qualification phase, and aligning the next steps with long-term development objectives for Omani football. The OFA emphasised that this measure is intended to maximise preparation and readiness ahead of major upcoming competitions. Despite the delay in domestic preparations, Oman team still will have a significant international assignment before the playoff stage resumes. The national team is set to participate in the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations League 2025, a friendly international tournament scheduled from August 26 to September 9, co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Oman drawn into Group A alongside the hosts Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, while Group B featured Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Malaysia. The tournament is expected to provide vital competitive exposure especially as Oman will face teams with varying tactical strengths and styles. The Red Warriors previously took part in the 2023 edition of the CAFA Nations League and are expected to leverage that experience to field a well-prepared squad for this year's edition. All eyes are on the playoff draw which is scheduled to take place on July 17 as Oman will discover their opponent in the final stage of the Asian qualifiers. The playoff round will offer two direct additional qualification spots for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, to be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
OFA to organise friendly tournament in Salalah on July 27
MUSCAT: The Oman Football Association (OFA) is gearing up to organise a four-team football tournament in Salalah, bringing together elite domestic and national teams in preparation for critical upcoming continental competitions. The tournament will feature: Oman Olympic U-23 team, Seeb Club reigning Omantel League champions, Al Shabab Club – His Majesty's Cup 2024–25 title holders and Al Nahdha Club – runners-up of the 2024–25 Omantel League. The event is scheduled to start on July 27. The purpose of this friendly competition is not only to offer high level match experience in a competitive environment but also to strategically blend national team players with their respective clubs, offering coaching staff valuable opportunities for assessment and preparation ahead of the significant events. This setup is particularly beneficial ahead of major international fixtures with players gaining exposure through tightly contested matches. Coach Badar al Maimani This initiative is part of OFA's wider efforts to support Omani clubs that will represent the Sultanate of Oman in upcoming regional and continental tournaments. Seeb Club will participate in the AFC Champions League 2 beginning in mid-August while Al Shabab Club is set to compete in the AFC Challenge Cup. Al Nahdha Club will take part in the Gulf Champions League. By facilitating this preparatory tournament, OFA will ensure the Olympic team and the domestic clubs will have strong opposition and maintain high performance levels leading up to their respective competitions. The Oman Olympic U-23 national team, led by coach Badar al Maimani, will also use the tournament to sharpen their skills ahead of their campaign in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers which is scheduled to take place during September 1 to 9. Oman is grouped with Iraq, Pakistan, and hosts Cambodia in Group F. Oman Olympic U-23 team The Olympic team recently began a short domestic camp with 24 players and is set to participate in an international friendly tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from July 17 to 23, alongside teams from Syria, Bahrain, and Kyrgyzstan. These steps are aimed at fine-tuning the squad ahead of the pivotal qualifiers. Coach Badar and his technical team will emphasise on building tactical cohesion and developing match fitness to secure a top spot in the qualifiers. The top team in each group and the four best runners-up will qualify for the final tournament alongside host nation Saudi Arabia.
