MUSCAT: Oman’s Seeb Club and Al Nahda Club discovered their opponents in the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 following the official draw held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday.
Al Nahda were drawn in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun FC, Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC and Jordan’s Al Faisaly, while Seeb were placed in Group D with Jordan’s Al Hussein, Iraq’s Al Shorta and India’s East Bengal FC.
The two Omani representatives enter the continental campaign with high ambitions after strong domestic seasons. Seeb qualified as Jindal League champions, while Al Nahda earned their place after lifting His Majesty’s Cup.
The competition features 32 teams divided into eight groups, with four groups in the West Region and four in the East. Teams will meet in a home-and-away round-robin format, with the top two from each group advancing to the Round of 16.
The group stage will begin on September 15 and conclude on December 9, 2026. The Round of 16 is scheduled for February 9-18, 2027, followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the final set for May 15, 2027.
SEEB TARGET ANOTHER ASIAN RUN
Seeb head into the tournament after an impressive domestic campaign in which they captured the Jindal League title with 67 points, recording 21 victories and four draws from 26 matches and suffering only one defeat.
The Muscat-based club also carry significant continental pedigree. Seeb became the first Omani club to claim a major Asian title when they won the AFC Cup in 2022, defeating Kuala Lumpur City of Malaysia 3-0 in the final.
Their previous Asian campaign proved more difficult. Seeb lost 2-1 to India’s FC Goa in the preliminary stage of the AFC Champions League Two before moving to the AFC Challenge League, where they defeated Bashundhara Kings 3-2, drew 1-1 with Kuwait SC and lost 2-1 to Al Ansar.
The team will enter the new season under Romanian coach Florin Motroc, with the club making several changes while retaining a core group that includes Zahir al Aghbari, Ahmed al Khamisi, Mohammed al Amri, Abdulmajeed al Balushi, Arshad al Alawi and Musab al Shaqsi.
Among their key attacking additions is Gabon international Axel Méyé, who joined after representing Sur last season.
Seeb have also produced encouraging pre-season results, beating Oman Club 1-0 before recording a convincing 5-0 victory over Fanja.
Their Group D opponents offer contrasting challenges. Al Shorta bring considerable continental experience from Iraq, Al Hussein have emerged as one of Jordan’s leading clubs, while East Bengal FC reached the group stage after defeating Kuwait’s Al Arabi 4-1 after extra time in the preliminary stage.
TOUGH CHALLENGE AWAITS AL NAHDA
Al Nahda return to Asian competition as His Majesty’s Cup champions, having defeated Oman Club 2-0 in last season’s final to secure the trophy for the second time in their history.
They finished fourth in the Jindal League with 44 points from 13 wins, five draws and eight defeats.
The Al Buraimi-based side have undergone significant changes during the summer, with English coach Scott Calderwood taking charge, assisted by Dean Martin.
Several key players have remained with the team, including Oman international goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi, Thani al Rushaidi, Ghanim al Habashi, Mohammed Faraj al Rawahi and Said al Alawi.
Al Nahda have also strengthened their squad with a number of additions, including Cameroonian midfielder Petrus Boumal, while Oman international Jameel al Yahmadi returned to domestic football following his spell in Iraq. The club has also added several local players as part of its preparations for a demanding season on domestic and continental fronts.
Al Nahda began preparations on July 13 before holding an overseas camp in Fujairah, UAE. Their pre-season programme included a 2-0 win over Al Ittihad of the UAE, a 1-1 draw with Saham and a 3-2 comeback victory over UAE side Al Arabi. They also defeated Sohar 1-0 on August 14.
Group C appears particularly demanding. Al Taawoun FC reached the AFC Champions League Two semifinals in 2024-25, while Al Faisaly are two-time AFC Cup champions.
Al Nahda are also familiar with Al Rayyan SC, having faced the Qatari side twice in last season’s Gulf Club Champions League. The teams drew 1-1 in Muscat before Al Rayyan won 3-1 in Doha.
Al Nahda themselves have enjoyed notable Asian runs, reaching the AFC Cup semifinals in 2008 and the West Zone Final in 2023-24.
With the draw complete, Seeb and Al Nahda will now turn their attention to the final phase of preparations as both sides look to carry Oman’s challenge beyond the group stage and into the knockout rounds.
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