Saturday 16 / November / 2024
MUSCAT: Oman head coach Rashid Jaber has called on his team to build on their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Palestine as they chase their FIFA World Cup 2026 aspirations.
Mohsin Al Ghassani’s decisive 83rd-minute goal secured the win in Thursday’s AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 Group B clash, revitalising Oman’s campaign.
Jaber commended his players for their focus and effort but emphasised the need to maintain momentum.
“We thank God for the three points that we desperately needed,” Jaber said.
“The players gave their all, and our defensive effort was commendable. However, the match is over, and we must immediately shift our attention to the next challenge (against Iraq on Tuesday).”
Reflecting on the game, Jaber acknowledged missed opportunities but remained optimistic about Oman’s path forward.
“We could have added a second goal but wasted several chances,” he added.
“The Palestinian team played well, but circumstances didn’t favour them in this campaign. For us, this result is a crucial step forward in reigniting our competitive spirit in the group. We aim to build on this success in our next match.”
Palestine’s head coach, Makram Daboub, lamented the defeat but refused to give up hope.
“This result feels harsh as we didn’t deserve to lose,” Daboub remarked. “We missed several opportunities and had to make forced substitutions, but we will focus on our next match against South Korea.”
The victory keeps Oman in fourth place in Group B, narrowing the gap to just two points behind Iraq and Jordan. With a crucial clash against Iraq on Tuesday, Oman has an opportunity to climb further in the standings.
Group B standings: 1 South Korea: 13 points (+7 goal difference), 2 Jordan: 8 points (+4 GD), 3 Iraq: 8 points (+1 GD), 4 Oman: 6 points (-2 GD), 5 Kuwait: 3 points (-6 GD), 6 Palestine: 2 points (-4 GD).
