Arab Cup Qualifiers: Bahrain and Oman Secure Group-Stage Berths

Bahrain edge Djibouti to reach the Arab Cup group stage

Bahrain progressed to the Arab Cup group stage in Qatar by defeating Djibouti 1-0, with Mohammed Al-Rumihi scoring in the 36th minute at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

The result moved Bahrain into Group D, alongside Algeria and Iraq, with the winner of the Lebanon-Sudan match joining them in the next round.

Oman survive Somalia on penalties to seal Group B spot

Oman beat Somalia on penalties 4-1 after a goalless draw at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, earning a place in Group B with Morocco and Saudi Arabia, plus the winner of the Comoros-Yemen tie.

The preparation for Oman included a week-long training camp during which they beat Sudan 2-0 in a friendly and then lost 0-2 to Ivory Coast, as part of the build-up to the tournament.

Somalia, meanwhile, ended a six-game winless run by beating Bahrain 2-1 last week but could not replicate that performance today. In the last six matches, Oman recorded two wins, two draws and two losses, while Somalia had one win, one draw and four losses.

The two teams showed resilience as they moved toward the group phase, and the tournament in Qatar promises more drama ahead.

Punchline 1: Bahrain and Oman didn’t just pass a test; they filed a group-stage visa and stamped it with a decisive win.

Punchline 2: If this qualifying round is any indication, the group stage is where the popcorn earns its true stripes—so sit back and enjoy the show.