Oman gear up for West Asia Under-23 Championship

MUSCAT, MARCH 28
The Oman Olympic football team will conclude its internal training camp in Al Buraimi on Sunday evening before departing for Al Ain in the UAE to continue preparations for the upcoming West Asia Under-23 Championship, scheduled for June.
Led by national coach Badr al Maimani, the camp forms part of the team’s ongoing build-up for the regional assignment, with the technical staff aiming to make the most of successive training phases to raise the players’ physical and technical readiness while widening the selection pool ahead of the tournament.
The squad’s external camp in Al Ain will run until April 1 and will include an international friendly against the UAE Olympic team on Tuesday evening at Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Stadium. The match is expected to offer the coaching staff a clearer picture of the current group and the level of cohesion developing within the squad.
The internal camp, held from March 27 to 29, marked an important stage in the team’s preparations. It included training sessions focused on physical conditioning, improving understanding among the players, and refining tactical aspects related to build-up play, transitions, and defensive and attacking organisation. It also gave the technical staff a valuable opportunity to closely assess the players, particularly with several new faces included in the current squad.
FRESH FACES DRAFTED IN
The squad selected for the internal and external camps features a notable injection of new talent, with several players born in 2005 and 2006 called up after impressing in the Olympic League and Jindal League competitions. A total of 17 players have joined the Olympic team setup for the first time, reflecting a clear intention to expand the player base and assess a broader pool ahead of the next stage of preparations.
In contrast, only seven players from the previous camp retained their places in the current squad. That balance underlines the experimental nature of this phase as the coaching staff continues to test options and shape the most suitable group for the coming assignment.
SQUAD OF 24
The 24-player squad comprises: Abdullah al Maamari, Faisal al Maawali, Anas al Ghadani, Mohammed al Hajri, Abdulhadi al Manwari, Ahmed al Ghailani, Ahmed al Farsi, Yousuf al Shabibi, Bashar al Maharbi, Mohammed al Duwiki, Ibrahim al Kindi, Nazem al Jalboobi, Adnan al Mishaykhri, Hamza al Saadi, Al Mulham al Rawahi, Mohammed al Rashidi, Mohammed al Maharbi, Said al Alawi, Abdulaziz al Balushi, Said al Barami, Sayyaf Bait Bahdoor, Ayoub al Busaidy, Omar al Yafi, and Naif al Ghailani.
These camps come at an important time for the Olympic side, particularly with the need to maintain the players’ competitive rhythm following the early conclusion of age-group competitions. That situation has made regular internal and external camps increasingly important in helping the technical staff preserve fitness levels and keep the players in a suitable competitive environment.
The coaching staff will also look to build on the success achieved in last year’s West Asia campaign, when Oman lifted the Under-23 title for the first time, defeating Jordan 3-1 in the final on March 25, 2025. With Badr al Maimani once again leading the side, Oman will be aiming to mount another strong challenge and defend their regional crown.