Muscat – Oman will face Qatar on Tuesday in the second round of the group stage of the 26th Gulf Cup taking place in Kuwait at Jaber al Mubarak al Sabah Stadium, which is hosting the matches of Group One.

The match, scheduled for 6:25pm Oman time, is crucial for Oman’s bid to qualify for the semifinals. After earning one point from a 1-1 draw with Kuwait in the first round, the team is eager to secure a strong result on Tuesday, especially after the UAE and Qatar also drew 1-1.

Oman national team coach Rashid Jaber said, “Our match against the Qatari team is very important following the first round. We respect the Qatari team, which has a group of distinguished players. The match will require great effort and mental focus. Winning it will be a significant step towards qualification, putting us in a comfortable position for the final round.”

He added that Tuesday’s match will not decide qualification, “but we are confident of advancing far in this tournament, with our chances being equal to those of the other teams”.

He added, “We are focusing on Salah al Yahyaei’s readiness for the next match. He is an important player for us, offering valuable solutions. We are working on improving our ranking in our group.”

On his part, midfielder Abdullah Fawaz said, “We have moved on from the first match and are concentrating on the next important step against the Qatari team, especially with all four teams in the group having drawn their opening games. We are determined to give our best and secure three points.”

In the last 15 encounters between the two teams in the Gulf Cup, Qatar has won ten games, while Oman won four. The two teams have drawn once. Oman scored 17 goals, while Qatar scored 29.

Oman will face UAE in the final round of the group stage on Friday, December 27.