Phnom Penh, September 9, 2025: Pakistan’s campaign in the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers ended in disappointment on Tuesday as the young Shaheens fell 1-0 to Oman in their final Group G clash at the National Sports Complex in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
It was a familiar story for Pakistan, who exited the tournament without a point, having earlier lost 1-0 to hosts Cambodia and suffered a heavy 8-1 defeat to Iraq. Despite showing flashes of resilience against Oman, their struggles in front of goal and lack of composure in key moments proved costly.
Tactical Changes and Early Blow
Head coach Nolberto Solano, back on the touchline after serving a one-match suspension, shuffled his squad for the encounter. Hassan Ali started in goal, while Mohibullah Afridi returned after suspension. Tufail Shinwari wore the captain’s armband in the absence of injured defender Haseeb Khan.
Oman, meanwhile, wasted little time asserting themselves. Their pace and sharp movement troubled Pakistan’s backline, and they eventually found the breakthrough in the 16th minute. Turki Abdullah timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, slotting home Said Alghanboosi’s lofted pass with composure.
Near Misses and Second-Half Struggles
Pakistan came close to an equalizer late in the first half when Syed Ali Raza rattled the crossbar with a powerful effort. Oman, too, squandered opportunities, most notably when Sameer Alhatmi headed over from close range.
A torrential downpour at half-time made the surface slick, slowing the tempo of the match. Pakistan carved out one of their best chances in the 75th minute, as substitute Mckeal Aroon forced Omani goalkeeper Abdullah Aljabri into a fine save. Oman responded swiftly, striking the post through Osama Sameer, before managing the game effectively to secure the narrow win.
Final Group Standings
The result cemented Pakistan’s place at the bottom of Group G with zero points and a -9 goal difference. Oman finished third with four points, while Cambodia, held to a 0-0 draw by Iraq in the later match, placed second with five points but failed to qualify as one of the best runners-up. Iraq, the 2013 champions, topped the group with seven points to book their ticket to the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.