His Majesty’s Cup football to kick off on September 28

MUSCAT: Former champions and nine-time winners Fanja will aim to equal Dhofar’s record of ten titles when they begin their campaign in the 2023-24 His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship against Al Salam on September 28.

A glittering ceremony marked the draw of the Sultanate of Oman’s most prestigious competition at the Kempinski Hotel Muscat in the presence of His Highness Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib Al Said, the chief guest, Sheikh Salim Al Wahaibi, Oman Football Association (OFA) president, H H Sayyid Azzan bin Kais Al Said, Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) vice-president, other dignitaries and representative of clubs.

Former Oman football stars Hassan Mudhaffar and Adil Matar picked up the draw of lots.

The draw of the preliminary round (knockout format) witnessed 16 teams drawn against each other with former champions Muscat taking on Sur in another mouth-watering clash. The 16 teams included 12 teams from the Oman First Division League and four bottom-placed Omantel League teams.

A total of 16 teams were drawn in the first round with the other eight teams earning a first-round bye for the 24-team tournament.

The eight teams included defending champions Al Nahda and the top seven finishers of last season’s Omantel League. They include Dhofar, Seeb, Sohar, Al Nasr, Al Rustaq, Bahla and Oman

The other preliminary round matches pits Al Wahda vs Al Taliya, Saham vs Nizwa, Ibri vs Al Shabab, Quriyat vs Al Mudhaibi, Ahli-Sidab vs Salalah and Al Khabourah and Al Ittihad,

The winners of the preliminary round will join the eight in the round of 16 with four-time champions Seeb drawn against in-form 2023-24 Omantel League leaders Sohar. The remaining six teams will await the winners of the preliminary round.