(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman's U22 Olympic team will host Iran in a friendly match in Muscat on October 11, according to the Oman Football Association (OFA) on Monday.
The OFA, which has come under criticism for its late pullout of the team from the third Islamic Solidarity Games that began in Indonesia on Sunday, will host the friendly when the inaugural Omantel Professional League (OPL) enters its first break since it began on September 13. The OPL break will be from October 6-17.
The Oman team, coached by Frenchman Philippe Burle, faces a major challenge early next year when it competes in the AFC U22 Championship, to be held in Muscat. The competition will be played from January 11-26.
Iran is one of 16 teams that have qualified for the event and the October 11 friendly is part of the OFA's plans to help Oman prepare for the championship.
Oman has been pooled in Group A along with Jordan, South Korea and Myanmar, while Iran is in Group C that also comprises Japan, Australia and Kuwait.
Oman's Olympic side last played in August when it finished fourth in the third GCC U23 Championship in Manama, Bahrain. Burle's boys lost to Kuwait 3-4 on penalties in the third-place playoff.
Burle told Muscat Daily, ''Eight of my players had toured with the senior national team to the UK after the GCC tournament and all of them are currently playing in the OPL. We have asked for a few more matches as we prepare for the AFC event. Iran is a strong team and we hope to benefit from the friendly match.''
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