ADIL AL BALUSHI
MUSCAT, OCT 8
Oman’s representatives, Seeb and Al Nahda, in the AFC Champions League Two are preparing for an essential second round of group-stage fixtures. Seeb are all set to host Jordan’s Al Hussein on Tuesday, while Al Nahda travel to Amman to face Al Faisaly on Wednesday.
Seeb will host Al Hussein at the Seeb Stadium as the match will kick-off at 8 pm (Oman time), in a Group D encounter that gives the home side an opportunity to open its account in the competition. In the other Group D fixture, India’s East Bengal FC will face Iraq’s Al Shorta at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
Seeb began their continental campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Al Shorta at Al Zawraa Stadium in Baghdad. The Omani side will therefore be looking to make full use of home advantage and claim its first points of the group stage.
Under Romanian coach Florin Motroc, Seeb are expected to enter Tuesday’s match with a squad that combines international experience with new additions. The club have also strengthened their squad with the arrival of Bahraini player Breins Oboos, who was born in Nigeria.
Several Seeb players were also part of Oman’s national team during the recent Gulf Cup in Jeddah, where Saudi Arabia were crowned champions. Among them are Musab al Shaqsi, Arshad al Alawi, Abdullah Fawaz and others giving Motroc a group of players with recent international experience. Seeb have also made a positive start to the domestic season, currently sitting second in the Jindal League with seven points after three rounds.
AWAY MATCH
Al Nahda will have an away assignment on Wednesday when they travel to Amman to face Al Faisaly of Jordan at the Amman International Stadium. The match will kick off at 10:15 pm (Oman time). The Group C encounter comes after Al Nahda opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun in Muscat last month, giving the Omani club an important point at the start of the group stage.
In the other Group C fixture, Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun FC will face Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC at Wolves Park in Buraidah.
Al Nahda are also currently enjoying a solid start to the domestic campaign, occupying third place in the Jindal League with seven points, level on points with Seeb but behind on goal difference.
The club will be hoping to draw inspiration from its continental history, particularly its memorable 2008 AFC Cup campaign, when Al Nahda advanced to the semifinals. The current squad will be aiming to build a new chapter in the club’s continental journey by competing strongly in Group C. Among the Al Buraimi-based team players expected to play an important role for Al Nahda include Harib al Saadi, Jameel al Yahmadi, Ahmed al Kaabi, Ghanem al Habshi, Aahed al Mashaikhi and Amjad al Harthi, while Djavan Anderson also provides an experienced presence.
Among Oman’s clubs, Seeb hold a special place in the country’s continental football history. Their triumph in the 2022 AFC Cup remains the most significant international achievement by an Omani club, as Seeb defeated Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur City 3-0 in the final to secure Oman’s first official continental club title.
Oman Club also reached the final of the Asian Club Championship in 1994, the predecessor of the modern AFC Champions League, finishing as runners-up after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Thailand’s Thai Farmers Bank. Al Nahda reached the AFC Cup semifinals in 2008, where they were eliminated by Bahrain’s Al Muharraq, marking one of the club’s strongest continental campaigns.
Fanja had created history in 1989 by winning the Gulf Clubs Championship, defeating Bahrain’s Al Muharraq to become the first Omani club to win a major Gulf club title. Several other Omani clubs have also reached the Gulf final and finished as runners-up, including Dhofar, Seeb and Saham.
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