What now for star man Abdulrahman?
and country for several years now is beyond debate. Time and again he has come to the rescue when they needed him most.
It should not be overlooked that, under what would have been intense pressure, he was the one player who stepped up to take the last minute penalty on Friday. Nor that, having missed it, he had the mental fortitude to volunteer for what ended up being a decisive penalty in the shootout.
Abdulrahman looked like a broken man after the UAE’s first ever defeat in a Gulf Cup final. Snapping at supporters is not what we’ve come to expect from the happy-go-lucky talisman.
So where to now for the golden boy?
In the short term, it is certain that Al Ain will provide all the support and encouragement he needs, and he has shown in the past that he is a strong enough character to overcome this setback.
But looking ahead, tough decisions will need to be taken regarding his career. At 26, the window for any move abroad is closing fast. It could be argued that Omar has done all that is humanly possible for his club and country, and he is now in danger of getting himself into a rut.
The responsibility of carrying both teams is starting to take its toll, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to his Gulf Cup final misery next time he takes to the pitch.
A break from the goldfish bowl existence of the Arabian Gulf League, and indeed Asian football, could be just what is needed, in one swoop wiping the slate clean and finally fulfilling a long-held ambition.
Even a short-term loan spell could do the trick.
In the long term, Abdulrahman, indeed everyone connected with the UAE national team, will already be looking toward the 2019 AFC Asian Cup set to be held on home soil. Amoory will, regardless of what happens between now and then, still be the UAE’s trump card, so a confidence-boosting spell abroad could do wonders for player and team.
Right now, the Emirati golden boy will not want to face the world, but there is no time for self-pity. The truth is that the UAE simply cannot do without Omar Abdulrahman.