Latest news with #AFCU-23AsianCupSaudiArabia2026Qualifiers
Observer
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman participate in a friendly tournament in Bishkek
MUSCAT, JULY 15 The Oman under-23 national football team delegation departed on Monday to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to participate in the four-team international friendly tournament which will take place from Thursday and will run until July 23. This key assignment comes as part of the team's preparations for the upcoming AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers which is scheduled in September. Before the departure, the Olympic squad performed few training sessions in Muscat, under the leadership of head coach Badar al Maimani and his assistant coaching staff. The short camp, hosted at Seeb Club, included several tactical and physical training sessions designed to sharpen the players' readiness for the friendly tournament and the forthcoming assignment. The coaching staff focused on match fitness, team cohesion and technical drills to build momentum ahead of the crucial international fixtures. The four-team tournament in Bishkek will include the hosts Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman. Oman team will kick off their campaign against Bahrain on Thursday, followed by a match against Kyrgyzstan on Sunday and wrap up their fixtures against Syria on July 23. The matches will be played across two stadiums in Bishkek: Alga Bishkek Stadium and Dolen Omurzakov Stadium. Coach Badar al Maimani has called up 24 players for the Bishkek assignment, including a mix of young emerging talents who are expected to gain valuable match exposure and international experience through the tournament. This friendly event is more than a warm-up as the players will enter into the mood of actual matches and will enhance their preparations ahead of Oman's road to the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026. Oman placed in Group F alongside Iraq, Pakistan, and hosts Cambodia in the Asian qualifiers which will be held from September 1 to 9, with Oman opening their campaign against Cambodia on September 3, taking on Iraq on September 6, and concluding against Pakistan on September 9. Only the group winners and the best four runners-up will advance to the finals in Saudi Arabia, joining the host nation. Also, it is expected that Oman Olympic team will take part in the four-team football tournament which will be hosted 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. Squad: Jawad al Azi, Osama al Mahrouqi, Nasser al Saqri, Sameer al Hatmi, Said al Ghanbousi, Abdullah al Jabri, Abdulaziz al Shaqsi, Loqman al Jadidi, Mohammed Abdulhakim, Rashad al Dhaeen, Osama Majdi, Ziyad al Rasbi, Turki Abdullah, Nayef Faraj, Sultan al Marzooq, Mohammed al Oraibi, Ahed al Mashakheyi, Abdulaleem al Rawahi, Ali al Balushi, Abdulhadi al Manwari, Ibrahim al Kindi, Masoud al Bahri, Hamed al Naimi and Yassar al Balushi.
Observer
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman U-23 coach calls up 24 players for Muscat camp
MUSCAT: The Olympic U-23 football team head coach, Badar al Maimani, called 24 players for the upcoming short scheduled preparatory internal camp which will begin on Sunday and will run for four days in Muscat. The new squad is very similar to the last one including two additional players: Abdullah al Jabri and Yassar al Balushi. This gathering is part of the team's preparations for the upcoming AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers which is scheduled to take place in early September. The gathering is expected to focus on tactical drills, fitness conditioning and team cohesion. The previous preparatory camp in Muscat which was held during end of June and early of July featured two friendly matches against local teams. The first match ended in a goalless draw between the Olympic team and the Royal Army of Oman while they registered a 2-1 victory over the Royal Guard of Oman. The camp also witnessed series of training sessions as the coaching staff headed by coach Badar al Maimani and his assistant Sultan al Toqi focused on the technical and tactical sides beside putting their touches on the starting list who will represent the team in the coming Asian qualifiers assignment. Oman U-23 coach calls up 24 players for Muscat camp Earlier in last month, the Oman Olympic U-23 national football team concluded their ten-day overseas training camp in Russia. The Moscow's gathering camp featured three friendly matches including 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 ended with a narrow 1-0 win for the latter. Despite the match results, coaching staff assessed the 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. Oman team will compete in Group F alongside Iraq, Pakistan and hosts Cambodia at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers. 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. Oman U-23 coach calls up 24 players for Muscat camp Oman U-23 squad: Jawad al Azi, Osama al Mahrouqi, Nasser al Saqri, Sameer al Hatmi, Said al Ghanbousi, Mohammed Abdulhakim, Abdulaziz al Shaqsi, Loqman al Jadidi, Abdullah al Jabri, Rashad al Dhaeen, Essa al Buraidi, Osama Majdi, Ziyad al Rasbi, Mohammed al Oraibi, Nayef Faraj, Sultan al Marzooq, Turki Abdullah, Ahed al Mashakheyi, Abdulaleem al Rawahi, Ali al Balushi, Abdulhadi al Manwari, Ibrahim al Kindi, Masoud al Bahri, Hamed al Naimi and Yassar al Balushi.
Observer
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman U-23 gears up for Asian qualifiers
MUSCAT, JUNE 27 The newly elected Oman Football Association Chairman, Sayyid Sulaiman bin Hamood al Busaidy, attended the Olympic football team training sessions on Thursday at Royal Oman Court Affairs stadium in Al Khoudh, as part of the team's preparations for the upcoming AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers which is scheduled to take place in early September. The chief of OFA was briefed by the coaching staff of the team headed by coach Badar al Maimani and his assistant Sultan al Touqi on the team's programme for the last period and the forthcoming phase ahead of the qualifiers campigan start. The team began their domestic camp in Muscat on Monday and will run until Wednesday. Coach Badar opted 24 players for this camp including two players from UAE's youth league as he called Hamed al Naimi (Al Majd SC) and Mazin al Harrasi (Aldhafra FC). The 10 days camp included mostly from the evening training sessions as the coaching staff are putting their tactics on the selected names of the squad and they will finalise the list ahead of the qualifiers star. The Oman Olympic U-23 national football team concluded earlier this month ten-day overseas training camp in Russia. The Moscow's gathering camp featured three friendly matches including 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 ended with a narrow 1-0 win for the latter. Despite the match results, coaching staff assessed the 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. Oman team will compete in Group F alongside Iraq, Pakistan and hosts Cambodia at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers. 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). Squad: Jawad al Azi, Osama al Mahrouqi, Nasser al Saqri, Sameer al Hatmi, Said al Ghanbousi, Mohammed Abdulhakim, Abdulaziz al Shaqsi, Loqman al Jadidi, Essa al Buraidi, Rashad al Dhaeen, Osama Majdi, Ziyad al Rasbi, Mohammed al Oraibi, Nayef Faraj, Sultan al Marzooq, Turki Abdullah, Ahed al Mashakheyi, Abdulaleem al Rawahi, Ali al Balushi, Abdulhadi al Manwari, Ibrahim al Kindi, Masoud al Bahri, Hamed al Naimi and Mazin al Harrasi.
Observer
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Sayyid Sulaiman elected OFA Chairman for 2025–2029 term
Muscat: Sayyid Sulaiman bin Hamoud al Busaidi was elected as Chairman of the Oman Football Association (OFA) for the 2025–2029 term during the association's extraordinary general assembly meeting held in Muscat on Wednesday. Sayyid Sulaiman secured the presidency after receiving 30 out of 43 votes cast by the member clubs and stakeholders of the OFA. Eng Qutaiba al Ghailani was elected Vice-Chairman of the OFA's Board of Directors. Meanwhile, this election marked a pivotal moment for the future of Oman's football with the incoming board expected to lead strategic efforts on both domestic and international events. The newly-appointed chairman of OFA and his members will have major responsibilities in the coming period including the national team which are currently in a crucial phase. Red Warriors will aim to secure a historic qualification spot in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Playoffs which will take place in coming October. In addition, the national team is scheduled to compete in the Arab Cup and CIS Asian event. At the youth level, the Olympic team will prepare for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers which is an important milestone in Oman's football development pathway.
