MUSCAT: A historic showdown awaits football fans as Oman Club and Al Nahda face off for the first time in His Majesty the Sultan’s Cup final at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher at 8 pm on Saturday.
The 55th edition will be held under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham al Said, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat.
The two sides have previously met only twice in the competition, both were in the 2008 quarterfinals, where the first leg ended in a draw before Al Nahda secured victory in the return leg.
Oman Club is chasing its third title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1979 and 1994, while finishing runners-up in the inaugural 1971 edition.
Oman entered the finals after a 1-1 draw against Al Nasr in the second leg of the semifinal, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.
Al Nahda, meanwhile, is aiming for its second title after clinching its maiden crown in 2023 at the same venue.
Al Nahda secured their place in the final after a 2-0 victory over Seeb in the second leg of the semifinal at Al Buraimi Sports Complex.
The 27,000-capacity Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, inaugurated in 1985, will host the final, which staged the first final in 1985 during the 14th edition between Fanja and Al Ahli, with Fanja lifting the trophy.
Tickets for fans are free and open to all supporters. Oman Club fans will be seated on the right side of the main grandstand, while Al Nahda supporters will occupy the left side, ensuring an electrifying atmosphere in the highly anticipated decider.
The final will be officiated by international referee Qasim al Hatmi, marking his second His Majesty’s Cup final after the 2017-2018 edition.
Al Hatmi will be assisted by Rashid al Ghaithi and Omar al Alawi, with Ali al Ajmi as fourth official.
The VAR system will be in operation, led by Mohammed al Manai and assisted by Jassim al Amri, while Ahmed Bait Jameel serves as fifth official and Ali al Shukairi as match assessor.
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