MUSCAT, NOV 1
Salah al Yahyaei and Abdulrahman al Mushaifri headline the returning players in Oman’s 28-man squad as head coach Tarik Sektioui broadens his options ahead of the King’s Cup in Thailand and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
The Red Warriors will assemble in Muscat from November 5 to 7 for a short domestic camp before travelling to Thailand. The gathering gives Sektioui another opportunity to assess his squad following Oman’s semifinal appearance at the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup in Jeddah.
Nine players have been brought into the squad compared with the 26 selected for the Gulf tournament, while seven have been left out.
Al Yahyaei, who plays for Jordan’s Al Faisaly, returns alongside Kuwait-based Al Qadsia winger Al Mushaifri, Al Nahda defender Thani al Rushaidi and Mohammed al Ghafri.
The other additions are Fahad al Mukhaini, Jawad al Ezzi, Mutasim al Maqbali, Abdulaleem al Rawahi and Yousef al Shabibi, providing further competition for places as Sektioui works towards his Asian Cup selection.
Four members of the squad play their club football outside Oman. Al Yahyaei and Al Mushaifri are joined by Al Qadsia playmaker Nasser al Rawahi and Port FC striker Essam al Subhi, whose familiarity with Thai football could prove useful during the trip.
Mohsin al Ghassani, Yousef al Malki and Arshad al Alawi are also absent, with injuries cited in the report on the latest selection.
TAJIKISTAN TEST
Oman will begin their first King’s Cup campaign against Tajikistan on November 14 at Sisaket Provincial Stadium, also known as Ko Klang Nam Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 pm Oman time.
Hosts Thailand face Brunei in the other semifinal later that day. The winners will contest the final on November 17, when the losing semifinalists will meet in the third-place play-off.
Brunei joined the four-team field following Bahrain’s withdrawal. The 52nd edition will be the first hosted by Sisaket, with both match days falling within the November 9–17 Fifa international window.
Further friendlies are planned for December. Oman are scheduled to face Yemen in Muscat on December 31, while a proposed meeting with Iran remains subject to confirmation.
The preparation programme leads into the Asian Cup, which runs from January 7 to February 5, 2027. Oman have been drawn alongside hosts Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Palestine in Group A.
Making their sixth appearance at the finals, the Red Warriors will seek to improve on their best previous finish a place in the last 16 in 2019 and reach the quarterfinals for the first time.
OMAN SQUAD
Amjad al Harthi, Ahmed al Kaabi, Ahmed al Rawahi, Ibrahim al Rajhi, Ibrahim al Mukhaini, Ahed al Mashaikhi, Khalid al Buraiki, Harib al Saadi, Ghanim al Habshi, Musab al Shaqsi, Thani al Rushaidi, Mohammed al Ghafri, Fahad al Mukhaini, Zahir al Aghbari, Jameel al Yahmadi, Abdulrahman al Mushaifri, Salah al Yahyaei, Abdulaleem al Rawahi, Jawad al Ezzi, Mutasim al Maqbali, Turki Bait Rabie, Nasser al Rawahi, Essam al Subhi, Sultan al Marzouq, Yousef al Shabibi, Abdullah al Maamari, Abdulmajeed al Balushi and Abdulhafez al Mukhaini.
