MUSCAT: The Oman Under-17 national football team will begin on Saturday a new domestic preparatory gathering which will run until Thursday. The six-day local camp is part of the team's preparatory programme for the main assignment at the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup, scheduled in Saudi Arabia during April 3-20, 2025.
Head coach Hamdan Bait Said affirmed to Oman Observer that the national team will play against Shabab Al Ahli (U-19) in Dubai on February 16. “During February also, the national team will take part in a friendly international tournament that will feature teams of Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Australia. In March, the Oman U17 national football team will have four preparatory matches which will be unveiled later as Oman Football Association has sent the request to many associations and confirmations are to be received very soon,” he added.
In the previous camp which took place during January 30 to February 4, the team had played against Qurayat Club (U-19) and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The Oman team's goal was scored by Mohammed al Mashakhyei.
The squad called for this camp featured some new faces in comparison to the last squad. The current squad include: Al Hassan al Qasmi, Fahad al Mashakhei, Al Ayham al Mukhaini, Abdullah al Wahaibi, Abdulaziz al Balushi, Issa al Hosni, Usama al Maamari, Ahmed al Omrani, Mohammed al Kindi, Al Waleed al Abdulsalam, Ali al Owaini, Saad al Maamari, Firas al Saadi, Abdullah al Saadi, Mohammed al Salhi, Alwaleed al Baradi, Mohammed Bait Salim, Al Waleed al Rashdi, Sulieman al Kharousi, Ziyad al Faraji, Ibrahim al Tamtami, Mohammed al Dowhani, Ahmed al Rawahi, Mohammed al Mashakhei, Ibrahim al Shamsi and Qaisa Ameen. The team featured two players who are currently playing in UAE League including Osama al Maamari (Al Wahda SC) and Ahmed al Omrani (Al Ain SC).
In the camp which will start on Saturday, the players who are in 12th grade will join the team after their absence in the last camp.
The draw for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup clubbed Oman beside Iran, Tajikistan and North Korea in Group D at the Asian event which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in April. The hosts, Saudi Arabia, will vie for their third title as they will meet Uzbekistan, Thailand and China in Group A. Asian heavyweights Japan will compete against Australia, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates in Group B, while North Korea will take on Yemen, Afghanistan and Indonesia in Group C.
The 16 qualified teams for the Asian Cup were divided into four groups, with the two top teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinal stage. The AFC U-17 Asian Cup will act as a qualifier for the Fifa U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, which will feature eight Asian teams for the first time at the newly expanded 48-team annual tournament.
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