MUSCAT, OCT 24
Oman’s representatives Seeb and Al Shabab will eye for a strong start in the 2025-26 AFC Challenge League (ACGL). Seeb will commence their campaign with a match against Bashundhara Kings from Bangladesh on Saturday at the Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium in Sulaibikhat in Kuwait City which will host Group B’s clashes. The match will start at 5 pm (Oman time).
Group B comprised Al Ansar FC (LBN), Bashundhara Kings (BAN) and hosts Kuwait SC (KUW) besides Seeb.
On the other side, Al Shabab will make their debut at the 2025-26 AFC Challenge League as they will take on home side Paro FC. The match will kick off at 4 pm (Oman time) at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan. Group A comprised Altyn Asyr (TKM), hosts Paro FC (BHU) and FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ) besides Al Shabab.
The next match of Al Shabab will be against Abdysh-Ata from Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday and they will conclude group matches on October 31 as they will meet Altyn Asyr from Turkmenistan.
AL SHABAB IN FULL SWING
Al Shabab head coach, Hassan Rustam, said the team is well prepared for the match and the remaining clashes in the group. “The target is to progress from the group stage and advance to the next level of the Asian tournament. There’s a clear difference in weather between Oman and Bhutan, but we are ready to adapt. Al Shabab represent Oman, not just the club’s supporters and we hope to receive strong backing from the Omani fans”, he added.
Hatim al Roushdi, Al Shabab player, affirmed that all his teammates in the club are in their best for the opening clash. “We will play for victory in the opening match to build momentum for the upcoming games. The technical staff worked hard to study Paro FC, who lead the Bhutan League”, he said.
Al Batinah South based team, winners of their maiden HM Cup title in 2024-25, will enter this match with a victory target. Coach Hassan and his technical staff worked hard to prepare all the players for this new assignment. During the last training sessions, players implemented several tactical plans and they will eye to snatch goals from the scoring attempts.
The coach will depend on Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Hatim al Roushdi, Mohammed al Ghafri, Yassar al Balushi, Lima, Malko, Adbijo and others. The next match will be against Abdysh-Ata from Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday and they will conclude group matches on October 31 as they will meet Altyn Asyr from Turkmenistan. Al Shabab team arrived in Bhutan on Tuesday to gear up for the matches and adapt with the weather and venue conditions.
SEEB ALL SET
Seeb, 2024-25 top-tier league champions, completed all their technical readiness as they arrived in Kuwait on Wednesday night. Serbian coach Nicola focused in the latest training sessions in Kuwait in different areas including the attacking and defending areas besides strengthening all the three lines and having proper harmony. The head coach and his assistant coaching staff will depend on many key players especially the national team players including: Ahmed al Rawahi, Ali al Busaidy, Arshad al Alawi, Salah al Yahyaei and other players in the team.
The quarterfinalists of the last season will meet hosts Kuwait team in their second match on Tuesday while the concluding match is scheduled against Lebanon’s Al Ansar, who ended a four-year drought in claiming a record 15th Lebanese league title in 2024-25, on October 31.
Oman’s experienced Seeb Club will look to rekindle the 2022 memories as they had lifted a historic continental 2022 AFC Cup title following their 3-0 win over Kuala Lumpur City FC.
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