Muscat: The second day of the 2026 Government Institutions Eights Football Championship, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), witnessed the continuation of high-level competition and excitement, as group matches from Groups 5 to 8 were played on Monday evening at Al Amal Sports Club Stadium.
In Group 5, a highly competitive encounter between the Royal Court Affairs and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP) ended in a 3–1 victory for the Royal Court Affairs, marked by attacking exchanges and intensity until the final minutes. Meanwhile, the Authority for Public Services Regulation claimed an important 3–1 win over the Majlis Ash’shura.
In Group 6, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MoAFWR) continued its impressive form with a commanding 5–1 victory over the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), demonstrating clear attacking superiority. In the other match, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) edged past the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) with a 2–1 win in a closely fought contest decided in the final moments.
Group 7 saw a tight and disciplined match between the Environment Authority and the State Audit Institution, which ended in a 1–1 draw, while the encounter between the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MoHERI), and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) finished in a goalless draw.
In Group 8, the Diwan of the Royal Court secured a convincing 3–0 victory over the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA), dominating the match from the outset. Meanwhile, the Supreme Judiciary Council defeated the Ministry of Interior (MoI) 1–0 in a hard-fought contest that remained competitive until the final whistle.
IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE
Majid al Hinai, a player for the University Medical City team, said that taking part in the current edition of the Government Institutions Championship represents a new and important experience for his team, noting that this is their first appearance in a tournament that features a strong lineup of competitive teams and talented players.
Al Hinai explained that the level of the championship reflects the intensity of competition among the participating institutions. He added that while his team has previously competed in similar tournaments within the university, this external participation presents a different challenge and a new ambition. We are aiming to deliver a strong performance and to reach the furthest stage possible in the tournament, he said.
With the conclusion of the second day, the opening round of the group stage was completed, providing early indications of the battle for qualification to the knockout stages. The championship features 32 government institutions divided into eight groups, under a professional organisational framework that reflects MoCSY’s commitment to promoting institutional sport, fair competition, and teamwork within the government workplace.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
