Sektioui closely monitors players ahead of first squad announcement

MUSCAT, APRIL 10

The newly appointed head coach of Oman national football team, Tarik Sektioui, is intensifying his evaluation of domestic players as he prepares to announce his first squad for the Red Warriors in the coming days.

Since arriving in Oman at the end of March, the Moroccan coach has been actively attending matches in the Jindal League and the OFA (Jetour) Cup, closely observing player performances across the country. The 48-year-old will aim to build a clear strategy that assists in building a competitive squad based on current form and consistency in domestic competitions.

Coach Sektioui has already attended more than six matches, covering the majority of top-tier clubs, with only a few teams including Dhofar, Sur and Ibri yet to be assessed in upcoming rounds. His visits in the previous rounds of the league underline his full commitment to gaining a comprehensive understanding of the local football landscape before making key selection decisions.

During his scouting mission, Sektioui was accompanied by key members of the national team setup including Waleed al Noumani, director of the national teams committee, Khalid al Rawas, team manager and Hussain al Zadjali, administrative officer.

The head coach continued his local tour with a visit to Salalah as he attended the match between Al Nasr and Al Khabourah at Al Saada Stadium on Friday. Earlier, he observed several key fixtures including the match between Al Shabab and Bahla at Seeb Stadium, which ended in a 4-1 victory for Bahla, as well as encounters involving Samayil and Seeb and Al Nahda against

Seeb and Samayil players fight for the ball during the Jindal League.

Oman Club.

SHORT CAMP

According to sources, Sektioui is expected to announce a short preparatory training camp in the coming period and this gathering will feature players who have stood out in recent domestic matches. The proposed camp is part of his initial plan to assess players more closely in a controlled environment.

In coordination with clubs, there are indications that one round of Jindal League matches may be postponed to accommodate this camp, highlighting the importance placed on the national team’s preparation phase. The coach is initially impressed by several players across different clubs but is keen to continue monitoring performances to ensure consistency before finalising his selections.

The main national team training camp is scheduled to take place after the Eid Al Adha break, in line with the upcoming Fifa international window in early June. The camp will run for approximately eight days as part of preparations for upcoming international commitments including some friendly matches. Discussions are also ongoing with several football associations to arrange preparatory matches during the Fifa window.