MUSCAT, MARCH 13
Al Shabab club, Oman’s representative in the 2025-26 AFC Challenge League, will meet Kuwait SC in the quarterfinal match on April 6. The new date for the match was confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after the game was postponed from its original schedule on March 4 due to the current security situation in the region.
In another quarterfinal match on the same day, Al Ansar FC will face FC Muras United. The winners of both matches will advance to the first semifinal of the West Asian region, which is scheduled to take place on April 9. The winner of the West region semifinal will later face the winner from the East region in the final match scheduled for May 9.
CENTRALISED FORMAT
The AFC announced that the remaining knockout matches for the West Asian region will be held under a centralised format. Meanwhile, the board of directors of Al Shabab Club, led by chairman Ahmed al Owaisi, is studying the possibility of hosting the remaining matches of the West Asian stage in Muscat.
According to the club’s secretary-general Alaa bin Salim al Riyami, a decision regarding the hosting bid will be made soon. “The deadline to submit our intention to host the remaining matches of the West Asian region, including the quarterfinal and the first semifinal, is on Thursday. The board is currently preparing all the required logistical and financial arrangements before making the final decision”, he said.
The Barka and Wadi Al Maawil based team, under the guidance of head coach Eelco Schattorie, is in good form ahead of the important continental clash. Al Shabab Club currently placed in second place in the Jindal League following a 2-1 victory over Sohar Club. The team also benefited from league leaders Seeb Club being held to a goalless draw by Al Nasr Club in the 17th round of the league.
STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH
Coach Eelco Schattorie said in a previous statement that he is aware of the expectations surrounding Omani clubs in Asian competitions, especially after Seeb Club won the AFC Cup 2022 as the first continental title for an Omani club. “I know that people remember Seeb’s achievement and hope to see similar success again”, he said.
“But my philosophy is simple. We take each match separately. The objective is to win the next game and then move step by step towards our ultimate target”, he added.
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