Seeb crowned champions

MUSCAT: Seeb Club sealed their dominance in the 2024–25 Omantel Professional League (OPL) by clinching the title with a match to spare, following a gritty 1-0 victory over 10-man Al Rustaq on Saturday night at the Al Rustaq Sports Complex.

Coached by Serbia’s Nikola Djurovic, the win handed Seeb their fourth top-flight domestic crown and confirmed their status as Oman’s premier football force this season.

The decisive moment for Seeb came in the 35th minute when Liberian striker Abu Kamara rose highest to head home from a corner, sealing all three points for the Muscat-based club.

Al Rustaq’s hopes were dented further when goalkeeper Islam Al Hinai was sent off just before halftime. Despite a spirited effort with ten men, Rustaq could not find an equaliser.

The victory pushed Seeb six points clear of nearest rivals Al Nahda with just one round remaining, rendering the final day of action academic in the title race.

Seeb will now host Al Nasr at the Seeb Sports Stadium on May 8 in what promises to be a celebratory home fixture capped with the official title presentation in front of their fans.

A season of character and class

Seeb’s championship campaign was defined by consistency and resilience. The Yellow and Green Brigade racked up 16 wins from 21 matches, with just three defeats and two draws. Two of those losses came in back-to-back games last month against Sohar and Oman Club, raising alarm bells among their supporters.

However, the team bounced back in emphatic fashion to retain the title.

The league triumph was especially sweet for Seeb after the heartbreak of losing the His Majesty’s Cup final to Al Shabab in February. That setback became a rallying point, with the team regrouping to mount an unshakable title charge.

Saturday’s triumph marks Seeb’s fourth Omantel League title, adding to previous wins in 2019–20, 2021–22, and 2023–24.

With four crowns, Seeb are now on par with Al Nahda, Al Arouba, and Al Suwaiq in terms of title count, still trailing traditional powerhouses Dhofar (12 titles) and Fanja (9).

Battle for top-four

While Seeb and Al Nahda (44 points) have locked up first and second place respectively, Oman Club (39) are secure in third. The battle for the fourth spot remains fierce between Al Shabab and Al Khabourah (28 points each), Al Nasr (27), Saham (26), and Bahla (25).

At the other end of the table, Sur’s 3-3 draw against Al Shabab sealed their relegation on Saturday, as they sit bottom with 18 points and no mathematical route to safety.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Al Khabourah defeated Al Nasr 2-1. Amir Alaa and Zakaria Al Qartubi struck in quick succession in the second half to secure a vital win for Al Khabourah. Marwan Taib pulled one back from the spot, but Al Nasr’s search for an equaliser fell short.

Also, goals from Baba Tunde (penalty) and Marwan Al Ghafri gave Saham a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Sohar. And in a thriller that sealed their fate, Sur failed to hold on to a lead despite goals from Mana Sbeit, Mohammed Al Najashi, and Abdullah Al Mashaikhi. A hat-trick from Al Shabab’s Mohammed Al Ghafri denied Sur the win, ensuring their relegation.

A goalless draw ensured Al Nahda’s second-place finish and kept Bahla in contention for a top-five finish.