KUWAIT CITY — Oman’s head coach, Rasheed Jaber, remains hopeful that star playmaker Salaah Al-Yahyaei will be fit to feature in their critical second match against Asian champions Qatar in the Khaleeji Zain 26 (Arabian Gulf Cup) on Tuesday.
Oman began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against hosts Kuwait on Saturday, battling back from a goal down to earn a point.
With Qatar and the UAE also sharing a 1-1 draw in their opener, all four teams in Group A are tied on one point, intensifying the stakes for the next round of matches.
Jaber, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Monday at the Crowne Plaza, emphasized the significance of the upcoming fixture at Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium and the need for greater tactical discipline and mental strength from his squad.
"With all four teams on a point, tomorrow’s match becomes even more critical,” Jaber said.
“We need to sharpen our decision-making in the final third and improve the players’ ability to read the game. A positive result will take some pressure off ahead of the final group match.”
The coach expressed optimism about Al-Yahyaei's potential participation, revealing that the midfielder has resumed training after recovering from an injury.
Jaber underscored the importance of having his key players available against a formidable Qatar side, who are widely regarded as one of the tournament favorites.
"Qatar are a very strong team and the champions of Asia, but the Gulf Cup is unpredictable, as Bahrain’s 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia last night showed," Jaber noted.
"We hope Salaah will be ready, as he is an essential player for us. However, our team is confident, and we promise our fans we will give our best to make them proud and go as far as possible in this tournament."
Oman’s focus will be on securing a victory to improve their chances of advancing to the semifinals in what has become a fiercely competitive Group A.
Jaber expressed confidence in his players’ ability to rise to the challenge and deliver a strong performance against Qatar.
