Oman looks for a winning start
Defending champion Oman will look to get off to a winning start when it takes on Bahrain in a Group B clash of the 24th Gulf Cup Football Championship in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday. The match, which will be played at the 12,000-capacity Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, will kick off at 6.30pm, Oman time.
Oman had won its second title under Dutchman Pim Verbeek in January 2018 and nearly two years later, the Red Warriors will be gunning to defend the title under another Dutch coach, Erwin Koeman.
Koeman, who took over Oman in February this year, has so far had a successful tenure with the team suffering just one defeat and one draw in the nine games under his reign.
The team, under Ahmed Mubarak 'Kanu' is a mix of youth and experience, though goalkeeping star Ali al Habsi, who recently made a return to the national side, will be missing due to his commitments with the English Championship club, West Brom. Kanu successfully led Oman to the title triumph in Kuwait and the captain exuded confidence ahead of his team's opening clash.
Speaking to mediapersons on Tuesday, Kanu said, “The Gulf Cup is important for all of us and our preparations started for this tournament after India’s match. We know that it will take a great effort to win the Gulf title again.”
The reigning champion arrived in Doha on Saturday following its 1-0 win over India in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Muscat on November 19.
The experienced midfielder, who has played a lot of club football in Qatar, said, “We are here to defend the title, but we expect it to be a very difficult tournament. All the teams are strong and ready.”
Besides Oman and Bahrain, the other teams in the group are fancied Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Kanu, 34, who has been part of both the Gulf Cup title wins in 2009 and 2018, said the team is looking for a winning start tomorrow.
Koeman said that his 'boys are well-prepared' and admitted that the group posts big challenge with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait as the other teams.
“It is a tough group but we have come with an ambition and need some luck to retain the title,” he said.
"The expectations are always high, especially when you are the defending champion, but this is not a problem. I think we are ready and like any team we need some luck as well," he said.
"All teams are strong and there is no big differences between them because this is an exceptional tournament for everyone. It's good to be here with Oman as the champion, but this is a new tournament, a different time, a new team and of course our goal is to qualify for the final, that's our first goal," said Koeman.
Bahrain, under Portuguese coach Hélio Sousa, is coming after its draw against Iraq last week in the World Cup qualifiers.
In the second game of the night, Saudi Arabia takes on Kuwait. Saudis are coached by Frenchman Herve Renard while ten-time winners Kuwait is under the charge of Thamer Enad.