MUSCAT: The Oman national U-20 football team lost its first friendly match against Iraq 1–0 in a game held at the Seeb Sports Stadium, as part of the ongoing preparatory camp in Muscat Governorate, which began on October 19 and will continue until the 29th. This camp comes within the framework of the team’s preparations for the AFC qualifiers leading to the next Asian Cup finals. Meanwhile, the Iraqi youth team is also holding a similar camp in Muscat in preparation for upcoming competitions, including the same qualifiers, having begun its training last Thursday.
The first half saw a balanced performance from both sides. Oman tried to control the game through short passes and attacks from the wings, while Iraq relied on long balls and quick counterattacks that posed some danger. Oman missed a valuable chance to score when striker Hussam al Naabi fired a powerful shot that went just wide of the right post. The first half ended goalless despite Oman’s slight advantage in possession.
In the second half, the intensity increased and the match became more competitive. Iraq started pressing high from the early minutes, taking advantage of passing errors in midfield. Their player, Ali Al Akbar Amir , managed to score the only goal of the match with a strong strike. Oman pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but the Iraqi defence remained well-organised and thwarted most attacks, sealing a 1–0 win for Iraq.
Oman’s youth team is scheduled to play its second friendly against Iraq on Tuesday at 6:15 pm at Seeb Sports Stadium, marking the end of both teams’ training camps. Under the leadership of coach Hamad al Azzani, the Omani side will aim to bounce back from the loss by correcting mistakes, improving attacking efficiency, and making better use of scoring opportunities, while Iraq will look to secure a second win and continue fine-tuning its technical aspects ahead of the upcoming qualifiers.
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