Qatar edge Oman U17 in Doha friendly

MUSCAT: Oman’s national U17 football team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Qatar in their opening friendly match during the squad’s external training camp in Doha, as preparations continue for a busy run of regional and continental assignments later this year.
The friendly, played on Monday evening at one of Doha’s football academies, formed part of Oman’s build-up programme under national coach Ahmed bin Salim Bait Said. Qatar used home advantage to take edge in the contest, while Rakan al Jabri scored Oman’s lone goal in a match that gave the technical staff an important opportunity to assess the squad’s progress.

Oman will have another chance to test itself against the same opponent when they meet Qatar in a second friendly on May 13, before concluding the short camp on May 14. The two matches are expected to provide valuable competitive minutes for the players and help the coaching team measure the side’s readiness against strong regional opposition.
The camp in Qatar comes shortly after the team completed a domestic gathering in Muscat from May 6 to 9. Bait Said has largely retained the same group of players from that internal camp, allowing the coaching staff to continue working on tactical understanding, physical readiness and team cohesion.
The current phase of preparation is particularly important for the Junior Red Warriors, who are scheduled to compete in the Arab Cup in Libya in August, before turning their focus to the West Asian Championship in Iraq in September. Their main continental target will be the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for November.

24-PLAYER SQUAD
Bait Said selected a 24-player squad for the Qatar camp, including Abdullah al Zaabi, Nahed Bait Jameel, Mohammed al Hinai, Mohammed al Kazrouni, Ahmed al Mukhaini, Said Bait Rajab, Bashar al Shamsi, Mohammed al Balushi, Hassan al Balushi, Nayer Bait Ardheen, Saif al Jabri, Jassim al Dawood, Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Jihad al Shukaili, Sultan al Balushi, Al Mulham al Sulaimi, Abdulrahman al Hashmi, Abdullah Bait Ali, Nader al Nubi, Rakan al Jabri, Abdulrahim al Tuwairshi, Mohammed al Amrani, Al Hussein al Ajmi and Mohammed al Maqbali.
Despite the opening defeat, the match served its wider purpose by giving Oman valuable exposure and helping the coaching staff identify areas that require further work before the team enters official competitions.
The OFA has placed the U17 squad on a structured preparation path aimed at raising the players’ competitive level and building a side capable of delivering stronger performances in the coming months. The technical staff will continue to focus on improving tactical discipline, individual skills and the overall balance of the team as Oman look to shape a promising generation for future national duty.