Wednesday 15 / January / 2025
Muscat: Oman coach Branko Ivankovic said that his team did well to come out with a point after the Red Warriors played out a goalless draw against the hosts Iraq in the opening match of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup at the Basra International Stadium on Friday night.
Speaking after the stalemate, the Croatian said: “I am proud of my players, who did well to pick up a point. The players were certainly affected by the huge turnout to watch the game. Nearly 65,000 fans were in the stadium and mostly were cheering the host nation. Our players are not used to such situations and it did impact their performance.”
Ivankovic added: I am sure that the large fans enjoyed the match after a spectacular opening ceremony. I expected my players to face a difficult time in the first 10-15 minutes. They negotiated it well and then onwards, they did well. We did create a few goal-scoring chances.”
The coach said that he did not field young striker Salah al Yahyaei as he was not fully fit for the match and wanted him to be ready for the coming games.
Oman defender Amjad al Harthy, who was substituted late due to injury, said: “I think we played a good game in difficult conditions with nearly 60,000 fans cheering the hosts. The point earned is valuable and we will try to pick full points in our next game against Yemen [January 9].”
Three-time winners Iraq had a couple of gilt-edged chances against Oman.
The hosts had the opportunity for a dream start when Jussein Jabbar found space in the box as early as the second minute but Oman goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini was equal to the challenge.
Two-time champions Oman could have taken the lead just before the half-time whistle but Arshad Al Alawi failed to get the better of goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
Iraq were the superior side in the second half with Ayman Hussein seeing his header sail just above the crossbar in the 60th minute while Alay Fadel failed to get his attempt on target in the 76th.
There was to be no winning start for Iraq with the crossbar denying Dhergham Ismail in the 86th minute.
In the second match, first half goals from Sumayhan Al Nabit and Musab Al Juwayr gave Saudi Arabia a 2-0 win over Yemen.
Yemen, however, had the first look at goal through Ahmad Maher in the sixth minute but goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqhidi was alert to the danger.
Saudi gradually began to take control and took the lead through Al Nabit’s shot from the edge of the area in the 19th minute.
Saudi Arabia kept pressing and widened their lead in the 34th minute through Al Juwayr’s spot-kick.
Iraq play Saudi Arabia on Monday while Oman face Yemen.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony and the opening match between Oman and Iraq on Friday night at the Basra International Stadium. Iraq is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1979.
Infantino was welcomed by the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, Iraq Football Association (IFA) President Adnan Dirjal, and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ahmed Al-Mubarqa.
The game was preceded by a minute´s silence in honour of Brazilian legend Pele, who passed away recently.
“It was great to have attended the opening ceremony and the opening game of the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup in Basra, Iraq between Iraq and Oman,” said the FIFA President.
“I am so happy that competitive football has finally returned to Iraq, a real football loving country, even more so with such a prestigious tournament. Football is happiness and it gives hope to so many people and in this case to an entire country.
“The full stadium and fantastic atmosphere in Basra tonight is a testimony to that. I would like to congratulate Iraq, the Iraq Football Association and the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation for the warm welcome and all the organisational efforts. Tournaments like this are fundamental to making football truly global and showing that football unites the world. FIFA has to be and is present.”
“While this is a moment of joy for the Iraqi people and the teams involved, we are also reminded that world football is also united in cherishing the memories on the field provided by Pelé and Gianluca Vialli who both passed away in recent days. I am sure football fans everywhere will keep these two wonderful players and outstanding personalities in their thoughts, as it was significantly the case today during the minute of silence ahead of the opening game of the Arabian Gulf Cup.”
Due to the security situation, Iraq has rarely been able to stage competitive matches in the country during the last 20 years. The most recent to take place in the country was a World Cup qualifier at home to Hong Kong in 2019.
In 2021, a new era began for the IFA when Adnan Dirjal, a former defender who made over 100 appearances for the national team between 1979 and 1990, was elected as its president. Since then, and with support from the FIFA Regional Office in Dubai, the IFA has been working to implement new projects and improve results on the pitch. The government of Iraq, a football-loving country, also has major plans to improve sports infrastructure and build stadiums around the country.
Iraq made their only appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 1986 and have performed consistently in recent editions of the AFC Asian Cup, reaching the knockout stages of every tournament since 1996 and winning the title in 2007.
