DOHA: The Red Warriors are looking forward to book a qualification ticket to the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 either as runner-up of Group F or among the best four teams that occupy third place.
Oman are currently in third place. If they succeed in earning three points against Kyrgyzstan with two-goal margin, and Thailand losing to Saudi Arabia, Oman will rise to second in the group to directly qualify to the last 16.
However, if Oman win over Kyrgyzstan and Thailand win or draw Saudi Arabia, they will finish in third with 4 points and will qualify within the best four occupying third place.
Croatian Branko Ivankovic, Oman head coach, said the team is ready for the tough match.
“We are facing a very important and difficult match, but we are definitely ready. All the teams participating are strong and we must consider that.”
“We have the chance to qualify as second or third in the group, although we played well in previous two matches against Saudi Arabia and Thailand, but we were not lucky to come out with a positive result.”
“We will not change our style and playing method, despite the criticism from the fans and the media that targeted the players and technical staff."
He indicated that the positions of Salah al Yahyaei and Ibrahim al Mukhaini in the final eleven are undecided," he added.
Kyrgyzstan's Slovakian coach, Stefan Tarkovic, is committed to the match to secure qualification to the knockout round.
He commented, "We are about to play a very important match and we still have a chance to qualify. All chances are open until tomorrow."
"We know that Oman national team includes some good players, but we have our ambitions, goals and opportunity to achieve what we aspire to,” he added.
“We won against Oman once, and we can win again, and each match has its own story and circumstances, and this is what prompts us to start tomorrow’s match from the scratch,” he concluded.
OMAN IN WHITES
Oman team will wear their white jersey against the Kyrgyz team, who will wear their red jersey.
Th Group E and F will conclude matches today. In Group F, Oman will face Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia will meet Thailand at 7 pm Oman time.
In Group E, South Korea will face Malaysia and Jordan will take on Bahrain at 3.30 pm Oman time.
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