The Oman national football team represents Oman in men’s international football and is controlled by the Oman Football Association. Although the team was officially founded in 1978, the squad was formed sometime before that and a proper Football Association was formed only in December 2005. Oman Football History.
Early History
In the mid-1990s OFA’s leadership by Sheikh Saif bin Hasheel Al Maskri saw Oman achieve high results on the Asian stage. Former Omani captain, Hani Al Dhahbait was awarded the RSSSF 2001 World Top Scorer, with 22 goals. The most goals scored by a player who has ever won the World Top Scorer award is also the third Arab and only Omani player to win the award.
The senior team has never qualified for the World Cup but has qualified for the Asian Cup in the years 2004, 2007, 2015, and 2019. She has also reached the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup four times and managed to win it for the first time on the third occasion. Tried as a host in 2009. They had to wait for the 2017 edition to win the tournament for the second time in their history.
Gulf Cup
Oman generally struggled more in the Gulf Cup, usually finishing sixth or seventh even when the Cup was held in Oman. It was in 1998 that the national team began to improve its performance and in the 2003 and 2004 Gulf Cups, new talents like Imad Al-Hasani, Ali Al-Habsi, Sultan Al-Taqqi, Badr Al-Maiman, and Khalifa Ayl made their way. The team is more successful.
In the 2002 Gulf Cup held in Saudi Arabia, Oman once again finished 5th but under the captaincy of Dhofar FC’s Hani Al-Thabit, Oman achieved a feat never before achieved in the team’s history in the Gulf. was Cup, defeating 9-time winners Kuwait. The match ended 3-1 with a hat-trick by captain Hani Al-Zahbait. Hani also scored a goal against Bahrain and a consolation goal in a 2–1 defeat against Qatar. At the end of the competition, Hani was the only Omani to score and was also awarded the “Top Goal Scorer” of the competition with a total of 5 goals.
In 2004
In the 2004 Gulf Cup held in Doha, Oman reached the final for the first time in the team’s history, eventually losing to hosts Qatar in a penalty shootout after goalkeeping sensation Ali Al Habsi missed a penalty. Qatar won the match 6-5 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in normal time. Imad Al Hasani was award the “Top Goal Scorer” of the competition with a total of 4 goals.
In 2007
In the 2007 Gulf Cup held in the United Arab Emirates, the national team. Once again reached the final for the second time in a row. Again losing 1–0 to the hosts, the United Arab Emirates. Although Oman lost to the Emirates in the final, they maintained an unbeaten record throughout the competition, barring the final.
Once again Ali Al Habsi won the “Best Goalkeeper of the Gulf Cup” award for the third time in a row. The most wins by any goalkeeper in the 40 years of the Gulf Cup tournament. After the match, Oman equaled the UAE in goal scoring with nine goals.
Oman National Football team
After finally losing two consecutive Gulf Cup finals, Oman went on to win the 2009 Gulf Cup tournament. As hosts, defeating Saudi Arabia in a penalty shootout. After the match ended 0-0 in extra time, Oman won the match 6-5 on penalties. Oman kept a clean sheet throughout the contest. The competition in Muscat was Hassan Rabia’s first and yet he managed to score 4 goals. Which earned him the “Top Goal Scorer” award. Ali al-Habsi also received his fourth consecutive “Best Goalkeeper Award”.
However, Ali Al Habsi will miss the next two Gulf Cups due to his commitments with his English club team Wigan Athletic FC. At the 2010 Gulf Cup held in Yemen, Oman drew all three of their group stage matches. Against Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.
Oman managed to score only one goal against Bahrain in the tournament. Which was score by Imad Al Hasani and hence could not progress further in the tournament. Following the team’s performances in the regional tournament. The Oman Football Association sacked their then manager Claude Le Roy on 9 January 2011.
In 2013
In the 2013 Gulf Cup held in Bahrain, Oman managed to draw only one match against hosts Bahrain. And lost their other two matches against Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Oman could once again only manage one goal. This time against Qatar by Hussain Al-Hashri from the spot, in which Oman eventually lost 2–1. Oman Football History.
In 2007
In the 2017 Gulf Cup held in Kuwait, Oman opened the tournament with a one-goal loss to the United Arab Emirates through Ali Mabkhout’s penalty kick. After that, Oman won the remaining two group stage matches. First against hosts Kuwait 1–0 with Ahmed Kanu’s penalty kick and then against Saudi Arabia 2–0. Oman qualified for the semi-finals against Bahrain and won 1–0 thanks to an own goal by Bahrain’s Mehdi Abdul Jabbar. Oman Football History.
Ultimately, and nine years after their first title, Oman went on to win the tournament for the second time in their history. Defeating the United Arab Emirates in a penalty shootout in the final. Oman won the match 5–4 on penalties after it ended 0–0 after extra time. Omani Ahmed Mubarak Kanu was award the Most Valuable Player award for his contribution to the results of the Omani team’s campaign. For more details click here