Oman U17s begin final camp ahead of WAFF Championship

MUSCAT: Oman’s national under-17 football team has entered a final domestic training camp in Muscat as preparations intensify for the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U17 Championship, which will take place in Aqaba, Jordan, from September 26 to October 5.

The camp, which began on Saturday and will continue until September 24, represents the final stage of preparations before the young Red Warriors travel to Jordan for the regional competition.

Oman were drawn in Group B alongside hosts Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, while Group A features Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals. Oman will open their campaign against Jordan on September 27 before facing the UAE on September 29, with both matches scheduled for 7 pm Oman time at Aqaba Stadium.

National head coach Ahmed bin Salem Bait Said has called up 23 players for the current camp as he looks to put the finishing touches on the squad ahead of the tournament.

Young Red Warriors go through their training drills during the ongoing camp in Muscat, which runs until September 24.

The selected players are Ahmed al Mukhaini, Nahidh Bait Jameel, Mohammed al Hinai, Abdullah al Farsi, Abdullah al Zaabi, Ziyad al Maamari, Bashar al Shamsi, Mohammed al Balushi, Hassan al Balushi, Nayer Bait Ardeen, Saif al Jabri, Jassim al Dawood, Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Jihad al Shukaili, Sultan al Balushi, Abdulrahman al Hashmi, Abdullah Bait Ali Issa, Nader al Noobi, Mohammed al Maqbali, Al Mulhim al Sulaimi, Abdulrahim al Tuwairshi, Mohammed al Omrani and Said Bait Rajab.

The technical staff are expected to place greater emphasis during the coming days on physical conditioning, tactical organisation and technical work, while also strengthening understanding and cohesion between the players.

The camp will also allow Bait Said and his coaching staff to fine-tune tactical plans and determine the combinations they intend to use in Jordan, with competition for places expected to remain high until the squad departs for the championship.

Oman U17 players during a training session at their final domestic camp in Muscat ahead of the WAFF U17 Championship in Jordan.

Oman have followed an extensive preparation programme throughout the year, featuring several domestic camps and friendly matches. In August, the team held a camp in Muscat from August 6 to 17 and played two friendlies against Bahrain, losing the first 2-1 before responding with a 2-0 victory in the second.

The WAFF Championship will also serve as an important competitive test ahead of Oman’s main continental assignment later in the year. The Sultanate of Oman will host Group G of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers in Salalah from November 8 to 20, with Oman drawn alongside Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon and Brunei Darussalam.

With the Jordan tournament now just days away, Oman will look to make full use of the final camp to reach peak readiness and build momentum ahead of their opening encounter against the hosts.