Tariq Skitiwi challenges Iraq ahead of Oman clash

Moroccan coach Tarik Skitoui has confirmed that his Oman team is ready to face Iraq in their opening match of the Gulf Cup "Gulf 27". He expressed that the Oman national team enters the match with great ambition to achieve victory and make a strong start in the tournament hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Oman is set to conduct its last training session today, Tuesday, in Jeddah, in preparation for the match against Iraq, which is scheduled for tomorrow evening, Wednesday, at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, at 5:30 PM local time in Mecca and Baghdad.

Ahmed Al-Rawahi stated during the press conference for the match: "The Iraq national team has changed many of the players who participated in the last edition of the World Cup, and this change is considered positive for them. Additionally, the Iraqi team is in the strongest group in the tournament, and we will strive to be present well tomorrow and achieve victory in the first match."

The Moroccan coach added: "We are ready in all aspects, whether mental or physical, and even in terms of team spirit and harmony. We had significant tasks during the past period to reach full readiness before the tournament starts, and today we feel that we are much better and we strive to continue working to improve the team's level."

Saktioi spoke about the nature of the competition in the Gulf Cup, saying: "The tournament is held in a gathering format and all participating teams are strong and prepared. We aim to achieve victories, but our approach to the current stage comes in line with a long-term vision through which we aspire to build a distinguished team that everyone admires and competes for titles."

The Omani coaching staff explained that they benefit from previous experiences of the national team, stating: "We must take previous results into account, as the Omani national team has had its ups and downs in past Gulf tournaments, but we are now in a different era with new faces, and we must focus on the current task to present ourselves in the best possible way."

The Oman national team is undergoing a renewal and building phase, with Ahmed Al-Rawahi stating: "We have a new building process, but in a smart and studied way. We have gone through three strong preparatory camps, and we have a great desire to make our fans happy. We want to assure them that they have a national team they can be proud of and support in the upcoming tournaments."

Oman's goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Rawahi praised the hospitality and organization in Saudi Arabia, saying: "I thank our Saudi brothers for the excellent organization and wonderful reception. We feel comfortable here in Jeddah and have trained well ahead of the anticipated match against the Iraqi national team."

Ahmed Al-Rawahi added: "The Omani fans have their own special flavor in all the Gulf tournaments and they always support us. We strive to make them happy in this tournament, and I know very well that their confidence in us is great to achieve positive results. We, in turn, will fight to collect every win and every point in the tournament, which represents great importance for us as players."