Trailblazing to the Arab Cup: Can Oman Upset Somalia in Doha?
25 November 2025
Match Preview
The Oman national team faces Somalia on Wednesday evening at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, in a decisive Arab Cup qualifier that will decide who advances to the group stage in Qatar, taking place from December 1 to 18.
The winner will join Group B alongside Morocco and Saudi Arabia, while the second prelude between Comoros and Yemen, scheduled for tomorrow, also determines a group-stage spot.
In their last five matches, Oman have one win, two draws and two losses, while Somalia have one win and four losses; Oman enter as slight favorites but must rebound from a dip in form ahead of this high-stakes test.
Form, Stakes and Quotes
Oman were eliminated from World Cup qualifying in the fourth round, yet they reached the Arab Cup quarterfinals last edition and hold the best record among the 14 teams in the current qualifiers.
A week-long training camp produced a 2-0 friendly win over Sudan, followed by a 0-2 defeat to Ivory Coast, as the squad built up to confront Somalia.
Coach Carlos Queiroz and forward Issam Al-Sabhi spoke at the pre-match press conference about readiness and the importance of the clash. Queiroz said the staff and players have worked hard and that the aim is to win and reach the group stage. He added that the focus remains on his team and that this tournament is a stepping stone for future campaigns. Al-Sabhi described the match as special and stressed the need to overcome Somalia.
Somalia arrive buoyed by a 2-1 win over Bahrain last week, their first victory in about five years, a result that could boost confidence ahead of the Doha showdown. Somalia defender Abil Gigli said they know Oman’s quality and that the goal is to reach the group stage, acknowledging recent results but noting progress.
Lineups, Absences and History
Oman are expected to line up with Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini in goal, a back line including Mahmoud Al-Mushirfi, Ahmed Al-Khamisi, Thani Al-Rashidi and Yusuf Al-Maliki, midfielders Nasser Al-Rawahi, Musab Al-Omari and Harib Al-Saadi, and a frontline of Jamil Al-Yahmadi, Issam Al-Sabhi and Mohammed Al-Jaafri. Somalia are set to field Said Al-Lili in goal, a defensive line that may include Abdullah Abdi, Ahmed Ali, Ali Mohammed and Mahmoud Ali, a midfield trio of Abdirahman Sharif, Mohamed Omar and Sernad Abdullah, and attackers Ali Musa, Yusuf Ali and Zakariya Hassan.
Oman will be without seven key players due to injuries or non-availability, including Arshad Al-Alawi, Amjad Al-Harthi, Ahmed Al-Kaabi and Hatim Al-Roshdi, among others, with clubs' schedules and FIFA dates complicating selection.
Lastly, this matchup carries a revenge edge for Somalia, following a previous Arab Cup playoff in 2021 in Doha when Oman edged a 2-1 victory. The latest clash is set to deliver drama and a charged atmosphere in Doha as both sides chase a positive result and a place in the tournament’s group phase.
Expectation is for a large crowd, with fans eager to see whether Oman can rebound after missing out on a World Cup dream and whether Somalia can sustain progress against a more established side.
Punchline 1: If patience were a sport, Queiroz would have earned a PhD by now—he keeps adding minutes to the clock, and somehow the whistle still hasn’t blown.
Punchline 2: In football, the ball has more fans than my gym membership—at least the ball travels, which is more than my excuses after a loss.
