MUSCAT: The Oman national football team concluded the three weeks external camp in Spain with a 1-1 draw against Real Oviedo FC on Sunday. The first preparatory match for the Red Warriors ended with a 5-0 win against Racing Murcia City. The only goal scored in the second warm up match was scored by Salah al Yahyaei in the 45th minute.
Oman’s head coach Jaroslav Silhavy began the second friendly match against Spanish club with a line up featuring Fayez al Rushedi as a goalkeeper. The defense line up comprised Amjaad al Harthy, Khalid al Buraiki, Mohammed al Musallami and Ahmed al Kaabi. Harib al Saadi monitored the center line and he was accompanied by Abdullah Fawaz, Salah al Yahyaei, Zaher al Aghbari and Jameel al Yahmadi. The only striker in the front line was AbdulRahman al Mushefri. Many substitutions were made during the match. The Red Warriors were supposed to play their third warm up match against CD Leganés FC on Wednesday but this match was cancelled.
Oman’s goalie Ahmed al Rawahi suffered a major injury during the opening friendly game against Racing Murcia City. The player went under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning. The medical staff of the team are following up for the medical tests. The overseas camp completion meant the coaching staff are in a good position to know each player's technical status and performance. Moreover, the head coach and his assisting team put their final touches on the starting line up for the upcoming matches during the AFC Asian qualifiers – Road to 26. During the external camp in Spain, Oman’s striker Mohsin al Ghassani left the external camp and traveled to Thailand as he joined the training of his new team at True Bangkok United FC. Seeb former player signed a contract with the Thai club for the next season after successful seasons with Seeb club. The midfield player Arshad al Alawi also left the camp due to some private reasons.
Oman will look for a bright start in their third appearance in the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 for the second successive edition as the qualifiers will begin in September. The Red Warriors are very optimistic this time as the draw brought them in Group B, which comprised South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Kuwait. The team will commence their campaign in the qualifiers against Iraq in Basra city on September 5. The second match is against South Korea in Muscat on September 10 and it will be a crunch game. Later, the Red Warriors will face Kuwait on October 10 in Muscat followed by a match with Jordan on October 15 in Amman. Then, the first leg matches will be concluded with a match against Palestine on November 14.
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