Oman player Salaah Al Yahyaei celebrates scoring a goal against Somalia in Doha yesterday.
Doha: Former Gulf Cup champions Oman yesterday produced a fighting show to beat Somalia 2-1 to reach the main draw of the FIFA Arab Cup to be held in Qatar later this year.
After Sudan’s win on Saturday, Oman - the 2017 Gulf Cup champions - have now become the second team to emerge triumphant from the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 qualifiers after an entertaining encounter at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Ranked 80th in the world and facing a side 117 places lower, the Omanis were heavy favourites for this tie - and justified that status with an impressive first-half performance. Mohsen Al Ghasani pounced on a rebound to fire them into an 11th-minute lead, and that was doubled 25 minutes later when the same player earned a penalty that was coolly converted by Salaah Al Yahyaei.
Somalia, though, showed real spirit in the second half and provided a dramatic finale after deservedly halving the deficit through a superb downward header by Abel Gigli. Sudan held on for victory, however, and they will join hosts Qatar, Iraq, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria and Sudan - who qualified yesterday - in the tournament’s final phase from 30 November to 18 December.
The remaining qualifiers will determine the other five participants in the days ahead.
Meanwhile FIFA confirmed yesterday that following the standard PCR tests applied ahead of the FIFA Arab Cup qualification matches, some members of the delegation of the South Sudan national team have tested positive for Covid-19.
In line with the medical procedures in place, they have been placed in isolation and the activities planned for today have been postponed.
Further details will follow in due course. Protecting the health and safety of all individuals involved in the FIFA Arab Cup remains a top priority with a comprehensive program based on the WHO's risk-based approach being implemented in coordination with the host country.
