Oman aims to extend dominance over Indonesia in Tariq Sektioui's debut

Oman's national football team is determined to maintain its long-standing dominance over Indonesia when they face off in Jakarta. Coach Tariq Sektioui stated his team's intention to extend their nearly 40-year undefeated record against the Indonesian "Garuda" squad.

The upcoming FIFA Match Day fixture on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium marks a significant moment for Sektioui. It will be his debut match as Oman's head coach, and he sees it as an opportunity to kickstart his tenure with a positive result. "Of course, Indonesia has not won against Oman for a very long time, and from our side, we will try to extend that period," Sektioui said during a pre-match press conference.

Historically, Indonesia has struggled against Oman, with their last victory dating back to the late 1980s. Since then, Oman has secured three wins and one draw in four encounters. The most recent match in 2021 saw Indonesia, then coached by Shin Tae-yong, lose 1-3 in an international friendly.

While acknowledging the favorable historical record, Sektioui stressed that the outcome is not Oman's sole focus. He is prioritizing the team's development and building a foundation for upcoming major tournaments, including the Gulf Cup, the Asian Cup, and potentially the World Cup. "This is a good opportunity to continue our preparation for the next Gulf Cup, for the Asian Cup, and hopefully for the next World Cup," he added.

Oman's senior defender, Khalid Al-Braiki, echoed the coach's sentiment, expressing enthusiasm for the match. He acknowledged Indonesia's growth as a modern team in Asia, noting their performance in the recent World Cup qualifiers. "We saw their matches in the last qualifiers and they are a very good team. So we are very happy to play against Indonesia," Al-Braiki stated. Both Oman and Indonesia were eliminated in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.