MUSCAT: The head coach of Oman national senior football team, Branko Ivankovic, announced on Sunday the 28-man squad for the upcoming domestic camp which will begin on Tuesday and will run until November 22 in Muscat.
The Oman Football Association (OFA) also unveiled new jerseys for Oman national teams in presence of Mohammed bin Suleiman al Yahmadi, OFA Executive Director, and other officials. Former national player Khalid al Rawas was appointed as the new team manager of Red Warriors replacing Maqbool al Balushi.
The new squad featured three new faces who are participating with the national team for first time including: Ghanim al Habshi, Ahed al Hudaifi and Nasser al Rawahi. Moreover, the Red Warriors list included return of Sur’s player Sami al Hasani after four years absence in the national team besides other recalled several former players including Khalid al Hajri, Amjad al Harthy and Ali al Busaidy who registered return to the team since 2021.
The Croatian coach began his statements in the press meet that the team will have major assignments including the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 for Fifa World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 besides 2024 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar campaign in between. “The upcoming local gathering will consider the two postponed matches of Omantel League and Al Nahda’s match in AFC Cup,” he said.
Commenting on Abdulaziz al Maqbali and he was not as one of the coach’s selection despite his top show currently in the league, coach Branko responded that Mohsin al Ghassani and Esam al Subhi are scoring besides Khalid al Hajri and Sami al Hasani called also for examination period with the national team in this camps as priority in comparison to other strikers. “The national team doors are open always for all the players and I am trying to give an equal chances for some players,” he said.
The 69 years old told reporters that Al Munthir al Alawi was not among the selected players due to his injury status. “The same story for Arshad who is suffering from an injury and he showed his best in the Uzbekistan friendly tournament in last June. I did not call him for this camp but he may be available for December camp if he showed good performance during coming period. Meanwhile, Tamim, Musab and Harib are in better readiness than Arshad in this position currently but the doors are open,” he added.
OMAN TO MEET CHINESE TAIPEI
Oman will begin their campaign in the preliminary Joint Qualifiers with a match against Chinese Taipei on November 16 in Muscat before meeting Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek city on November 21.
The former coach of Iran confirmed his message that there are 50 players in good shape and readiness to join the national team. “Oman national team list is open for all the players and will select the right players for the right position,” he said.
In reply to a query related to Hatim al Roushdi, the head coach said that Hatim currently is not in his list. “I am following up him continuously and he can get back to the team anytime. Hatim was in the last camp but he was injured,” he said.
Branko affirmed that the squad featured from new faces, return of many players after few years and there is always chance to call up for new players as we did ahead of USA camp in last September,” he concluded.
OMAN PROBABLES: Ahmed al Rawahi, Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Fayez al Rushaidi, Amjad al Harthy, Ahed al Hudaifi, Mahmoud al Mushaifri, Ahmed al Kaabi, Ali al Busaidy, Khalid al Buraiki, Ahmed al Khamisi, Mohammed al Amri, Ghanim al Habshi, Fahmi Dorbeen, Musab al Maamari, Tamim al Balushi, Harib al Saadi, Naser al Rawahi, Moutaz Abd Rabuh, Omar al Fazari, Salah al Yahyaee, Zaher al Aghbari, Abdullah Fawaz, Jameel al Yahmadi, Mohsin al Ghassani, Khalid al Hajri, Sami al Hasani, Omar al Malki and Esam al Subhi.
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