Oman target maiden Arab beach soccer crown

MUSCAT, NOV 3
Oman will open their bid for a first Arab Beach Soccer Cup title against Libya on November 5, as they seek to improve on their runners-up finish in the previous edition.
Head coach Talib Hilal has named a 12-player squad for the fifth edition of the tournament, which will be held in Port Said, Egypt, from November 5 to 10. Organised by the Union of Arab Football Associations and hosted by the Egyptian Football Association, the competition will bring together eight national teams at the Porto Said Beach Soccer Stadium.
Oman face three group matches on consecutive days, meeting Libya in their Group B opener before taking on Lebanon on Friday, November 6, and Morocco on Saturday, November 7. Hosts and defending champions Egypt head Group A alongside Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Iraq.
The tournament offers Oman another opportunity to claim the trophy after their run to the 2023 final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where they lost 4-2 to Egypt. Yahya al Muraiki and Khalid al Oraimi scored Oman’s goals in that final as the Egyptians secured their second title.
Libya, Oman’s opening opponents, won the inaugural edition in Egypt in 2008. Saudi Arabia claimed the 2010 title on home sand, while Egypt’s first triumph came in 2014.
Oman’s preparations have combined domestic training with international match practice. An initial camp from October 6 to 13 was followed by a visit to Belarus from October 13 to 20, during which the team competed in the Friendship Cup.
Oman lost 8-5 to Belarus before suffering an 8-2 defeat against Iran, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to assess the squad against experienced opposition.
The players subsequently regrouped at the beach soccer pitch of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher for a final camp from October 26 to November 2. Training focused on addressing shortcomings from the two matches, improving physical readiness and refining tactical combinations ahead of the Arab competition.
The delegation is headed by Abdullah al Rashidi, an Oman Football Association board member and supervisor of the national beach soccer team.
Oman’s squad comprises Sami al Balushi, Abdulrahman al Fazari, Nooh al Zadjali, Salim al Oraimi, Abdullah al Souti, Yahya al Muraiki, Mishaal al Araimi, Fahad al Mashaikhi, Majid al Afari, Younis al Owaisi, Khalid al Oraimi and Musallam al Araimi.