MUSCAT: The Oman Under-20 team will eye for a strong start as they will meet three-time runners-up Malaysia in the opening game of Group E at the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers. The match will take place at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at 4 pm (Oman time). In another game of the group, three-time winners North Korea will target for a win where they will take on Sri Lanka while hosts Tajikistan will commence their campaign in this group on Monday with a match against Sri Lanka.
Oman's future stars are all set for the game after they had completed all their technical and tactical preparations by a final session on Friday at the match venue. The training session began with warm-up exercises and ball drills in several groups. The coaching staff then divided the team into two groups for an extended scrimmage, during which various tactical plans were implemented to assess the team's readiness.
Oman head coach Ahmed al Alawi and his assistant Jamal al Mahrami finalised the starting line-up in the last sessions and decided the playing style. Oman’s coaching staff preferred to be available in Dushanbe city ahead of the qualifiers start by few days to adapt the players with the environment and stadium’s condition. During the past training sessions, the team worked out on different technical sides focusing on strengthening the attacking side with more exercises on converting the scoring attempts into goals besides creating more chances at the opponent’s area.
Among the total 10 groups, other nine groups will commence their qualification matches in different Asian cities. The top winners from each group and five best second-placed teams will advance to the finals as China will host the tournament during February 6-23, 2025.
Oman will aim for their fourth presence in the Asian event and will fight for securing a spot in the expected tough qualifiers.
Oman’s second game will be against Sri Lanka on September 25. Then, Oman will play against North Korea on September 27 before they conclude their games against hosts Tajikistan on September 27. All the matches will be held at the same venue.
OMAN U20 SQUAD: Majid al Farsi, Masoud al Bahri, Ghassan al Manwari, Yousef al Shabibi (Al Shabab), Said al Alawi (Al Nahdha), Jawad al Azi, Adnan al Mushaifri, Said al Ghanbousi (Seeb), Faisal al Haidi (Bausher), Oudai al Manwari, Muhannad al Saadi (Al Salam), Fahad al Mukhaini (Sur), Abdullah al Maamari (UAE’s Hatta), Abdulaziz al Shaqsi (Al Rustaq), Bashar al Maharbi (Fanja), Moamin al Souli (Al Suwaiq), Shihab al Mukhaini, Hamed al Mukhaini (Al Taliea), Yassar al Balushi (Sur), Ziyad al Jaalani (Saudi’s Al Khaleej), Abdullah al Jabri (Nizwa), Rashad al Dhaeen (Al Nasr) and Mohammed al Sameen (Dhofar).
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