MUSCAT, APRIL 25
Oman national football team will return to action during the upcoming Fifa international break in June with two friendly matches against Indonesia and Kuwait, as part of the team’s early preparations under new head coach Tarik Sektioui.
According to the programme announced by Oman Football Association, the Red Warriors will take on Indonesia on Friday, June 5 in Jakarta, before facing Kuwait on Tuesday, June 9, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The two fixtures come at an important stage for Sektioui, who recently completed his first internal camp with the national team in Muscat. The short gathering, held from April 18 to 23, gave the Moroccan coach an initial opportunity to assess the available players, introduce his technical approach and build direct communication with the squad.
The camp concluded with an extended internal practice match, during which Sektioui and his technical staff closely monitored several tactical and technical aspects. The session allowed the coach to assess the players’ response to his ideas, their physical readiness, tactical discipline, movement between the lines and ability to adapt to different match situations.
The recent camp mainly featured locally based players, with several overseas professionals absent due to their commitments with their clubs. That gave the coaching staff a wider chance to evaluate players from the domestic competitions and form an early picture of the options available before the June list is finalised.
NEW CHAPTER
Sektioui’s first gathering marked the beginning of a new technical chapter for the Red Warriors following his appointment as national team head coach. The June friendlies are expected to provide a clearer test of the squad’s progress, particularly as the team moves from internal sessions to competitive international matches.
The match against Indonesia in Jakarta will offer Oman a useful challenge against a developing Asian side playing at home, while the Kuwait friendly in Bangkok will carry a different competitive flavour, given the familiar Gulf rivalry between the two teams.
The technical staff is expected to continue monitoring players in the domestic league, alongside Omani professionals abroad, before announcing the squad for the June window. Some overseas-based players could return to the team depending on their club schedules and readiness.
The two friendly matches form part of Oman’s broader preparation plan for upcoming regional and continental assignments, including the West Asia Championship, which Oman will host in November, and the long-term build-up towards the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
For Sektioui, the coming period will be crucial in shaping the team’s identity, testing different combinations and building a squad capable of responding to the demands of the next stage. The June camp will also provide an important opportunity to strengthen team cohesion and translate the ideas introduced during the first internal gathering into match situations.
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