Muscat, Dec 4
The head coach of Oman U-19 football team, David Gordo, opted 24 players for the domestic camp which began in Muscat on Sunday. The ten days warm-up gathering is being held at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex as part of team’s preparation for the top assignment of AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023. The Asian finals is scheduled to take place in Tashkent from March 1 to 18, 2023.
The team had concluded their abroad camp in Dubai on November 20 on a bright note. Coach David Grodo’s boys had played two friendly games against the UAE team. The opening warm-up game ended in favour of Oman by 2-1 as Al Mutaism Ghanim and Abdullah al Rajhi netted the winning goals.
In the following match, Oman boys repeated their victory against the hosts 1-0 after Abdul Majeed al Balushi scored all the important goal in the 22nd minute. Dubai camp was within the team’s technical plan for gearing up for the Asian event.
Oman are grouped with Korea Republic, Tajikistan and Jordan in Group C of AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023. Hosts Uzbekistan will vie for the title as they will face Indonesia, Iraq and Syria in Group A while Qatar will try to secure a berth in quarterfinals as they will meet Australia, Vietnam and Islamic Republic of Iran in Group B. Defending champions Saudi Arabia, Japan, China PR and Kyrgyz Republic will compete in Group D. The top four teams in the Asian finals will confirm their presence in the Fifa U20 World Cup 2023, which will return to Asia in Indonesia from May 20 to June 11.
Oman Squad: Turki Abdullah, Al Muhatadi al Abri, Mohammed al Oufi, Abdullah al Rajhi, Al Muntasir al Mawali, Salim al Shamakhi, Momin al Souli, Mulhim al Hadharami, Osama al Rawahi, Salim al Abdali, Abdullah al Anbouri, Said al Ghanbousi, Al Harith al Mukhaini, Mosab al Shamsi, Abdul Aleem al Rawahi, Ahed al Mashakhei, Mazin Saleh, Al Muhannad al Habsi, Abdulmajeed al Balushi, Ali al Balushi, Salah al Jadeedi, Ayman al Nabhani and Mohammed Abdulhakim.
