Morocco’s Tariq Skitioui Named Oman Boss, Replacing Queiroz
22 March 2026
Coaching Change in Oman
The Oman Football Association announced the appointment of Moroccan Tariq Skitioui as the new head coach of the national team, replacing Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz.
In an official statement, the federation said it had terminated Queiroz's contract by mutual consent and thanked him for his efforts during his tenure.
Queiroz's Short Tenure in Oman
Queiroz, 73, took charge of Oman last July on a one-year contract, but the agreement was ended earlier than planned.
BeIN Sports Qatar reported on Thursday that Queiroz apologized for not continuing as head coach amid security concerns.
During his tenure, the Portuguese coach oversaw 11 matches, recording three wins, three defeats, and five draws, and Oman exited the Arab Cup at the group stage with four points.
In a separate release, Oman announced Skitioui's appointment.
Tariq Skitioui: From Morocco to Oman
It was noted that Skitioui had been among the leading candidates to coach Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, but the Moroccan federation appointed Mohammed Wahbi earlier in March.
He has delivered notable results recently, guiding the Moroccan Olympic team to bronze at Paris 2024 and lifting the national side to the Arab Cup in 2025.
Moroccan press suggest Skitioui rejected a club offer to replace a coach at Wydad, choosing to pursue a project abroad.
As Oman begins this new chapter, fans hope to turn a run of draws into a few more wins.
Meanwhile Queiroz can finally write a book titled How to coach in the desert without losing your sun hat.
And if Skitioui ever doubts himself, he can just blame the absence of VAR on the mirage.
