MUSCAT: Oman Under-17 national team has secured a spot in the 20th edition of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia from April 3-20, 2025. This marks Oman’s 12th qualification for the Asian Cup finals, achieved as one of the top second-placed teams among the ten qualifying groups. Oman ranked fifth among the second-place qualifiers, following China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Iran.
Despite a 2-0 defeat in their final match against Tajikistan on Sunday, Oman will compete in next year’s Asian Cup. Under the leadership of head coach Anwar al Habsi, the team started the qualifiers with a commanding 5-0 victory over hosts Singapore and then followed by an impressive 18-0 win against Guam. Although they lost to group leaders Tajikistan, who won all three of their matches, Oman finished second in Group J with six points which was enough to secure their place in the finals.
Head coach Anwar al Habsi expressed his gratitude to the team for their efforts in the qualifiers. “Special thanks to the players for their exceptional performance throughout the Asian qualifiers. Despite the setback against Tajikistan, the boys played well. Our goal was to secure the top spot in the group but a few minor technical details affected the outcome. The opponents were disciplined and capitalised on key moments in the match,” he added.
Al Habsi emphasised the positive outcomes from the qualifiers. “Each match provided invaluable experience for our players and this will strengthen our preparation for next year’s competition,” he said.
The Oman U-17 team boasts a proud history in the Asian Cup, having won the title twice—in 1996 and 2000. They also represented Oman at the Fifa U-17 World Cup on three occasions: in 1995 (finishing fourth), 1997, and 2001. With this qualification, the 'Junior Red Warriors' will make their 12th appearance in the Asian Cup, adding to their legacy in continental youth football.
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