Sektioui replaces Queiroz as Oman head coach

Muscat: The Oman Football Association (OFA) on Sunday appointed Moroccan coach Tarik Sektioui as head coach of the national team, replacing Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz after the two parties agreed to terminate the contract by mutual consent.
The move signals a fresh technical direction for the next phase, with upcoming commitments led by preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. The OFA also decided to cancel the national team’s training camp and withdraw from the international friendly tournament in Azerbaijan scheduled for March 27 to 30.
No details were disclosed regarding the length or financial terms of Sektioui’s contract.
The change comes after a brief spell for Queiroz, who took charge in July 2025. During his tenure, he led Oman in 11 matches, recording three wins, five draws and three defeats. The return was not enough to sustain the momentum the team had hoped for, especially after Oman’s group-stage exit at the 2025 Arab Cup and failure to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup following defeat in the Asian playoff last October.
Sektioui’s appointment carries clear technical significance given the standing he has built in Arab and African football in recent years. The 48-year old guided Morocco’s second-string side to the 2025 Arab Cup title in Qatar after a 3-2 victory over Jordan in the final. He had earlier led Morocco’s Olympic team to a historic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, further strengthening his growing reputation at the international level. He was also linked with Morocco’s triumph in the 2024 African Nations Championship, which concluded in August 2025.
RICH EXPERIENCE
Sektioui has enjoyed a rich playing and coaching career. A Moroccan coach and former player, he possesses a Uefa Pro coaching licence. Born in Fez on May 13, 1977, he began his football career with Maghreb de Fes before embarking on notable professional spells in France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UAE, including time with Auxerre, Willem II, AZ Alkmaar and Porto, in addition to his international career with Morocco.
After retiring in 2011, he moved into coaching and steadily rose to become one of the most prominent Moroccan names in the profession.
On the coaching front, Sektioui started with Maghreb de Fes in 2013 and later returned to lead the club to the Throne Cup title in 2016. He then moved between several Moroccan clubs, including Wydad de Fes, Moghreb Tetouan and RS Berkane, where he won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2020. He also had a brief spell abroad with Emirates Club before returning to Moroccan football with Union Touarga and Maghreb de Fes, ahead of his move into the national team structure.
In February 2024, he was appointed head coach of Morocco’s Under-23 side, before taking on wider responsibilities with the national second-string team at the 2025 Arab Cup. His work at youth and senior reserve level highlighted his ability to manage tournament football, build competitive groups and deliver under pressure.
With Oman, Sektioui is expected to focus on restoring balance and shaping a clearer football identity for the national side. The team enters an important rebuilding phase following the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup, with attention now turning to regaining confidence and preparing a competitive squad for the next continental challenge.
In appointing Sektioui, the OFA appears to have placed its trust in a rising coach with recent tournament pedigree and proven ability to handle high-pressure assignments, qualities that could prove decisive in shaping the national team’s new chapter.