Tarik Sektioui says Oman did not deserve Gulf Cup semi-final defeat by UAE

Oman manager Tarik Sektioui said his side’s 1-0 defeat by the United Arab Emirates in Saturday’s Gulf Cup semi-final was deeply frustrating and insisted they had done enough to avoid losing.

The Moroccan coach, speaking to Qatar’s Al Kass channels after the match, praised his players for their performance, tactical discipline and determination to recover from conceding and put pressure on their opponents.

Sektioui said Oman’s improvement had not come from any secret, but from “work and effort only”.

He explained that he was still relatively new to the Oman national team and that preparations for the tournament had been difficult. The squad had dealt with injuries and player fatigue following the end of the season, while there had not been enough time to hold a long training camp before the competition began.

Despite those challenges, Sektioui said the team’s performance had been positive and that Oman’s level had continued to improve throughout the tournament.

“The team was growing with the tournament,” he said.

Sektioui also addressed speculation about his future with “the Reds”, confirming that his contract runs for four years. He said the long-term objective was to build a strong, competitive team capable of qualifying for the next World Cup.

Speaking at his post-match news conference, in comments published by the Oman national team’s account on X, Sektioui said: “We played a good match, but we were unable to get back into the game. The UAE team was strong and organised, and we tried to be realistic during the match.”

He added: “I am sad about the defeat and we did not deserve it, despite the circumstances we are facing. We benefited a lot from the tournament and wanted to use it to understand exactly where we stand. We will continue to assess the performance.”

Sektioui described the competition as an important learning experience for Oman’s younger players, while warning that the challenges ahead would be greater.

“It was an important tournament for the young players, and the upcoming commitments will be stronger and more difficult,” he said.

The manager reaffirmed that selection would remain open to any player who demonstrated the required level.

“The door of the national team will remain open to every player who proves his level,” Sektioui said. “We have a long time to work on correcting our mistakes. Changing some players was necessary for the future of Omani football.

“I always say that we must be patient, and then patient again, if we want a strong and competitive national team.”