MUSCAT: Oman’s senior national football team have stepped up preparations for their upcoming international commitments with a short internal training camp in Muscat, running from April 18 to 23, marking the first camp under newly appointed head coach Tarik Sektioui. The Moroccan tactician called up 28 players for the gathering as he begins shaping the next phase of the national team project.
The camp has taken on added importance after Oman were unable to hold a training gathering in March, making this week’s programme a valuable chance for the new technical staff to begin direct work with the players. Sektioui said the camp, although limited to five days, is significant because it allows the coaching staff to deliver key messages, get closer to the players and accelerate mutual understanding ahead of the next stage.
Oman opened the camp without several overseas-based professionals, who remain tied to their club commitments abroad. That has allowed Sektioui to closely assess domestic-based players, an approach consistent with the field monitoring he has carried out since taking charge, having attended Jindal League matches and followed players at close range before naming his first squad.
Sektioui also underlined the importance of institutional support around the camp, thanking the Oman Football Association, those responsible for scheduling, and club officials for facilitating the team’s preparations. He indicated that the immediate objective is not to chase glamour friendlies, but to arrange matches that genuinely serve Oman’s competitive needs in the coming period. In that context, he made it clear that Spain is not part of the current camp plan, stressing that any future friendlies should be selected carefully in coordination with the federation to support the team’s official targets.
For the players, the camp is also the start of a new chapter. Oman midfielder Ghanim al Habshi described it as an important first gathering under Sektioui, saying the coming period will be crucial for the team’s ambitions. He noted that the camp gives the coach the chance to see players from close quarters while helping the squad push towards the best possible level of readiness for the tournaments ahead.
The current phase forms part of Oman’s broader build-up towards a packed cycle of competitions, including the 10th West Asian Football Federation Championship, which is set to be hosted by Oman from November 9 to 18, and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, for which Oman has already qualified. Earlier reports also indicated that the main national team camp is expected after the Eid al-Adha break, in line with the June FIFA window, when preparatory friendlies are being discussed.
Sektioui reserved a final message for Omani fans, calling on them to return to the stands and back the team in the period ahead. He described the supporters as the “number one player”, while stressing that the road ahead will require patience, hard work and collective commitment from everyone involved if Oman is to reach the level they aspire to.
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