MUSCAT: Oman hope to make a strong comeback after their recent defeat to Jordan as they prepare to face Palestine on Thursday in the fifth match of Group B in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26. The match is set to kick off at 8:00 pm (Oman time) at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The Red Warriors and Palestine both understand that anything less than a victory could jeopardise their Fifa World Cup ambitions at an early stage or place them in a challenging position.
Oman’s players, under the guidance of head coach Rasheed Jaber, are in good form after completing a series of warm-up sessions at Seeb Stadium and Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, the venue for the match.
Several Injuries
Oman are currently facing several injuries in the squad, including Salah al Yahayei, Ali al Busaidy, Yazeed al Mashani and Essam al Subhi. The coaching staff, led by Rasheed Jaber and his team, have focused on finding suitable replacements during recent training sessions.
Meanwhile, Bangkok United’s Mohsin al Ghassani has returned to Muscat Governorate to join the team’s latest training sessions and is expected to be a key player in the attack. During the final training session at Seeb Stadium, coach Rasheed implemented technical and tactical drills to ensure the players' readiness and team cohesion before these crucial matches against Palestine and Iraq. Earlier warm-up sessions prioritised maintaining the players’ fitness levels, as well as developing their strength and endurance.
Home Support
The ‘Red Warriors’ will rely on home support to achieve positive results in the upcoming matches against Palestine and Iraq. Oman will aim to secure vital points in these two games to keep their hopes alive.
Following a tough qualification journey, Oman currently hold fourth place in the standings with three points, behind leaders South Korea, who have 10 points. Jordan and Iraq follow with seven points each. The recent 4-0 defeat against Jordan in Amman highlighted the need for a strong response, and the squad is now focused on turning things around in these must-win home fixtures to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
The coaches' press conference will take place on Wednesday, with a technical meeting scheduled beforehand to discuss match-related matters.
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