Veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz is leveraging the ongoing Arab Cup in Qatar to rebuild and develop the Oman national football team, prioritizing player experience over immediate tournament success.
The 72-year-old manager aims to launch new players and inject fresh talent into the squad. This strategy follows Oman’s narrow failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup.
Queiroz cited a 0-0 draw against Qatar in his debut match and a subsequent 2-1 loss to the United Arab Emirates. He told reporters that the team was “only 10 minutes away from qualifying” despite limited preparation time.
“We are working to develop new players and achieve positive results,” Queiroz said at a press conference. “We want to compete and achieve positive results. What matters now is to focus on my team and prepare the next game.”
He added that Oman would “either win or we learn” from their matches.
Oman, placed in Group B, will face two-time winner Saudi Arabia in their opening match on Tuesday. They will then play Morocco on Friday and conclude their group stage against Comoros on December 8.
This marks Queiroz’s eighth national team role, following stints with Qatar, Egypt, Colombia, Iran, Portugal, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. He previously managed clubs such as Sporting and Real Madrid.
Queiroz has coached in four World Cups, leading Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Another Portuguese coach, Hélio Sousa, is also participating in the Arab Cup, leading the Kuwaiti national team. Sousa echoed a similar focus on team building.
“We are focused on building a strong team and finding the right combination of players to reach the level we aspire to,” Sousa stated at a press conference. Kuwait, in Group C, will play Egypt on Tuesday, followed by matches against Jordan on Saturday and the United Arab Emirates on December 9.