Higher Education tournament enters decisive stage

MUSCAT: The second Higher Education Institutions Football Championship 2026 is approaching the knockout stage after competitive group-stage action involving 21 teams from across Oman.
Organised by the Oman Committee for University Sports (OCUS), the tournament runs from November 1 to 22, with matches at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher and Sultan Qaboos University.
The teams are divided into four groups, with six in Group A and five each in Groups B, C and D. The group stage concludes on November 12, ahead of the knockout rounds.
GROUP STANDINGS
In Group A, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) topped the standings with 15 points from five victories, scoring 19 goals and conceding one. The German University of Technology (GUtech) followed with 12 points, Mazoon College nine, Seeb Vocational College six, Modern College of Business and Science three, and Oman College of Management and Technology zero.
In Group B, the University of Nizwa and Sohar University share the lead with nine points each, although Nizwa has played one match fewer. The Arab Open University and College of Banking and Financial Studies have three points each, while Muscat College has none.
Muscat University topped Group C with nine points, followed by A'Sharqiyah University with seven, Global College of Engineering and Technology with six, Shinas Vocational College with four, and Saham Vocational College with two.
In Group D, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and Military Technological College lead with nine points each, followed by National College of Automotive Technology with three. International College of Engineering and Management and Oman College of Health Sciences remain without points.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
UTAS completed Group A unbeaten, including a 4-1 victory over GUtech, which earlier defeated Modern College 7-2.
Nizwa remained unbeaten without conceding, including a 6-0 win over Sohar. Muscat University topped Group C despite losing 2-1 to Shinas, while A'Sharqiyah University recorded a 7-1 victory over Global College.
SQU registered the tournament's biggest victory, defeating Oman College of Health Sciences 13-0.
Ahmed al Shamsi (GUtech) leads the scoring charts with six goals, followed by Al Saqr al Rawahi (Nizwa) and Mohammed al Lamki (SQU), with four each.
Al Muayyad al Riyami (Muscat University) and Yousuf al Siyabi (Saham Vocational College) have received one red card each.