Oman Prepares for Crucial Gulf Cup Match Against Qatar

KUWAIT: Oman’s national football team is gearing up for a high-stakes Gulf Cup match against Qatar at Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Stadium in Kuwait. Scheduled for 6:25 pm Oman time, the encounter is pivotal for Oman’s semi-final aspirations. Following a 1-1 draw with Kuwait in their opening match, Oman seeks a decisive win against a Qatari team that also drew 1-1 with the UAE in their first game. Both teams enter the match evenly matched, adding to the intensity of the contest.

Oman’s coach, Rashid Jaber, emphasized the importance of the game during a pre-match press conference. While acknowledging the strength of Qatar’s squad, he expressed confidence in Oman’s readiness to secure victory. Jaber noted the strategic adjustments made to improve attacking efficiency and highlighted the fitness of key player Salah Al Yahyaei. He downplayed the idea of the match being a must-win scenario but recognized the significant boost a victory would provide toward reaching the semi-finals.

Qatar’s Spanish coach, Luis Garcia, shared his perspective on the match, recognizing Oman’s dynamic and counter-attacking style. Garcia expressed optimism in his team’s preparation and their ability to handle the challenge. The match will be officiated by Iraqi referee Muhannad Qasim, with a Chinese-led international VAR team ensuring fair play.

The Omani squad has one final training session at Khaitan Stadium to finalize their strategies. Historically, Qatar has dominated Gulf Cup encounters between the two teams, winning 10 of their last 15 meetings. However, Oman is determined to rewrite the narrative and strengthen their position before their final group-stage match against the UAE on Friday.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *