MUSCAT: The Oman national football team shifted full focus towards their opening group B clash against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in the Fifa Arab Cup Qatar 2025 following their dramatic qualification victory over Somalia on Wednesday. The highly anticipated match will take place at Education City Stadium on Tuesday and it will kick off at 9:00 pm (Oman time).
The Red Warriors resumed their training sessions on Friday night after clinching qualification spot with a tense 4-1 win on penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time. Red Warriors suffered a lot to score during both half of the match against Somalia - a side ranked 200th globally. The coaching staff focused in the latest training sessions to conduct a thorough technical review to reinforce strengths and address areas needing improvement. Head coach Carlos Queiroz and his technical team wasted no time in implementing corrective measures.
A recovery and warm-up session took place on Thursday morning, ensuring players regained optimal physical readiness following the intense playoff match. By Friday evening, the full squad returned to the pitch for a comprehensive tactical training session designed to enhance cohesion and sharpen on-field execution. Queiroz divided the session into several phases, focusing initially on positional discipline, ball circulation under pressure, and defensive transitions including the areas tested heavily during the Somalia match. The technical staff emphasised quicker decision-making in midfield, improved accuracy in the final pass, and stronger coordination among the front line. The defensive unit underwent targeted drills aimed at refining organisation and strengthening response during counterattacks.
All players participated fully in the session, with the coaching staff carefully monitoring workload levels to balance recovery and readiness of the team. The atmosphere in camp remained highly motivated, as players understand the demanding challenge ahead in Group B, which featured strongest sides in the competition including Morocco and Saudi Arabia beside Comoros who edged Yemen to attend in Fifa Arab Cup.
Oman will open their group campaign on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia, one of the region’s most consistent performers. The second match is scheduled on Friday against Morocco at the same venue and the match will kick off at 6:30 pm (Oman time). The Red Warriors will conclude their group stage journey on December 8 against Comoros at the iconic Stadium 974, with kick off set for 9:00 pm (Oman time).
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