Saturday 12 / October / 2024
MUSCAT: Oman’s head coach Rashid Jaber once again proved his ability to get the best out of his boys against Kuwait, leading the Red Warriors to a commanding 4-0 victory at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday night.
Remarkably, Jaber had previously guided Oman to a win over Kuwait during his earlier stint as national coach in 2002, when they secured their only victory in that year’s Gulf Cup in Riyadh.
This latest triumph, part of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 2026, highlighted Oman’s tactical skill and underscored the importance of psychological preparation in their success.
Taking over the national team after two early defeats in the qualifiers, Jaber has made an immediate impact. He credited focused mental conditioning as a key factor in the victory.
“We focused heavily on the psychological aspect, boosting confidence and improving mental presence," Jaber said.
"This was positively reflected in the players’ performance, as we emphasised ball possession, which our skilled players enjoy."
Jaber took the helm following two early defeats for Oman in the qualifiers, replacing Czech coach Jaroslav Silhavy. Under Jaber’s leadership, the Omani team delivered a complete performance, dismantling their West Asian rivals to the delight of the home crowd.
However, the head coach was quick to caution his players against overconfidence. “We must not let complacency set in. The qualifiers are long and difficult, and while we celebrate tonight, tomorrow we start preparing for Jordan,” Jaber added.
"We’ve only reached 30 percent of our full potential. Our goal is to impose our style of play across the full 90 minutes in upcoming matches."
On Thursday, Oman’s aggressive start paid off early in the game, with Abdul Rahman Al Mushaifri breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute after a neat exchange of passes with Salah Al Yahyaei.
His shot struck the post before finding the back of the net. Kuwait struggled to respond and soon found themselves further behind when Muhsen Al Ghassani headed in Jameel Al Yahmadi’s cross in the 30th minute, leaving Kuwait's goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini with no chance.
Despite Kuwait coming out stronger in the second half, their efforts went unrewarded. Oman capitalised on their defensive lapses, with Al Mushaifri netting his second goal in the 58th minute.
Amjad Al Harthi’s precise cross found Al Mushaifri in the six-yard box, where he had time and space to finish clinically. With Kuwait deflated, Oman sealed the victory with a late strike from Abdullah Fawaz, who burst into the box to slot home past Al Mukhaini.
The victory not only ended Oman’s two-match losing streak but also kept Kuwait searching for their first win, after having opened their campaign with two draws. Next up, Oman will travel to Jordan to play in Amman on Tuesday, while Kuwait will face Palestine.
