Oman Olympic to take on Kuwait in friendly match in Thailand

MUSCAT: Oman Olympic football team will take on Kuwait team in a preparatory match on Sunday in Thailand as part of the team’s under way overseas camp which started since last Wednesday. This will be the first friendly match for the team in the current warm up external gathering and it will be followed by another match against Thap Luang United F.C of Thailand on Wednesday at the latter’s home in Bangkok city. Both warm-up games will act as part of Oman Olympic team’s preparation for the forthcoming matches in AFC U-23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 qualifiers which will take place in coming September in Cambodia.

Series of training sessions under the direct supervision of the head coach Badar al Maimani and his assistant Sultan al Touqi, took place at Wend Mellis Club FC in Bangkok city. The current weather situation in Bangkok are very similar to Cambodia which will host the Asian qualifiers during September 3 to 9. The team will head directly to Cambodia following the conclusion of the Thailand camp on August 28.

An Oman Olympic player contests a header during training

The team will compete in Group F of the qualifiers beside Iraq, Pakistan and the hosts Cambodia. Oman will face three decisive matches in their quest to secure a spot at the finals of the Asian Cup including the opening match against the hosts Cambodia on September 3 while they will meet Iraq on September 6. They will conclude the matches against Pakistan on September 9. Only the group winners and the four best second-placed teams across all groups will progress to the finals in Saudi Arabia, joining the host nation.

During the last days, the coaching staff focused on enhancing the player’s physical readiness and technical sharpness ahead of their crucial continental assignment. Also, the players worked hard on the the tactical sides, fitness development, and competitive training matches to ensure full readiness ahead the qualifiers start.

Oman, under guidance of coach Badar, will eye to return back in the Asian event after an absence of the last edition in Qatar. Oman attended in four times of AFC Asian U-23 championship out of six editions. The Olympic squad recently participated in the four-nation international friendly tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Coach Badar al Maimani guides the team in Thailand camp

Oman finished as runners-up in that event, collecting four points from three matches defeating Bahrain 1-0, drawing 1-1 with Kyrgyzstan, and falling 2-0 to eventual champions Syria. The Bishkek experience offered valuable international exposure and highlighted the team’s strengths and areas of improvement as they approach the qualifiers. Also, the Olympic team ended as runners up in the local tournament, which ended in Salalah last month, after they suffered a loss against Al Nahdha in the final match in penalties.

Squad:

Jawad al Azi, Osama al Mahruqi, Nasser al Saqri, Sameer al Hatmi, Said al Ghanbousi, Mohammed Bait Sabee, Abdulaziz al Shaqsi, Loqman al Jadidi, Masoud al Bahri, Abdullah al Jabri, Ibrahim al Kindi, Osama Bait Sameer, Ziyad al Rasbi, Abdulmajeed al Balushi, Abdulaleem al Rawahi, Nayef Bait Sabeeh, Turki Bait Rabee, Ali al Balushi, Yassar al Balushi, Rashad al Dheen, Mohammed al Oraibi, Abdulhadi al Manwari, Essa al Buraidi and Adnan al Mushefri.