The Oman national football team is the national team of Oman and is controlled by the Oman Football Association. Although the team was officially founded in 1978, the team was formed long before, and has established a proper football association in only December, 2005.
Prior to the turn of the 21st Century, Oman's senior team have generally finished in last place in all competitions in which competed in, but with the rise of new players, such as Omani legend, Hani Al-Dhabit in the late 90's, Oman has transformed from being a regional underdog to a world class team,[citation needed] sporting players from England to Belgium, and Saudi Arabia, to Qatar. Former Omani captain, Hani Al-Dhabit was awarded the RSSSF 2001 World Top Scorer, with a staggering 22 goals[1]; the most goals scored by a player who won the World Top Scorer award to date, and also being the third Arab to win the award, as well as being the first Omani.[2]
The U-16, and U-17 national teams have generally had more success than the senior team on international level, winning 3rd place in the 1994 AFC U-17 Championship, and winning twice the competition in 1996, and 2000 editions. The team has also qualified for the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Ecuador, finishing in a record 4th place, and qualifying for the 1997 edition in Egypt again having an exciting run through the competition, but was eliminated in the final 8. During these U-17 World Championships, many great talents were exposed to international light, such as Hashim Saleh, Hani Al-Dhabit, and 1995 U-17 World Championship top scorer, Mohammed Al-Kathiri.[3][4] The U-17 team has also qualified for the third time for the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago. They currently have qualified for the 2010 AFC U-16 Championship.
In the 2009 FIFA facts, Oman was said to be the longest running team without conceding a goal, with a total of 8 matches played.
The senior team has never qualified for the World Cup, but has qualified for the Asian Cup in the years 2004 and 2007, and reached the Gulf Cup of Nations final three times, and won it on its' third attempt as hosts.
Prior to the turn of the 21st Century, Oman's senior team have generally finished in last place in all competitions in which competed in, but with the rise of new players, such as Omani legend, Hani Al-Dhabit in the late 90's, Oman has transformed from being a regional underdog to a world class team,[citation needed] sporting players from England to Belgium, and Saudi Arabia, to Qatar. Former Omani captain, Hani Al-Dhabit was awarded the RSSSF 2001 World Top Scorer, with a staggering 22 goals[1]; the most goals scored by a player who won the World Top Scorer award to date, and also being the third Arab to win the award, as well as being the first Omani.[2]
The U-16, and U-17 national teams have generally had more success than the senior team on international level, winning 3rd place in the 1994 AFC U-17 Championship, and winning twice the competition in 1996, and 2000 editions. The team has also qualified for the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Ecuador, finishing in a record 4th place, and qualifying for the 1997 edition in Egypt again having an exciting run through the competition, but was eliminated in the final 8. During these U-17 World Championships, many great talents were exposed to international light, such as Hashim Saleh, Hani Al-Dhabit, and 1995 U-17 World Championship top scorer, Mohammed Al-Kathiri.[3][4] The U-17 team has also qualified for the third time for the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago. They currently have qualified for the 2010 AFC U-16 Championship.
In the 2009 FIFA facts, Oman was said to be the longest running team without conceding a goal, with a total of 8 matches played.
The senior team has never qualified for the World Cup, but has qualified for the Asian Cup in the years 2004 and 2007, and reached the Gulf Cup of Nations final three times, and won it on its' third attempt as hosts.
