The Somalia national team, Ocean Stars, are fully engaged in preparations for their crucial, 2021 FIFA Arab Cup qualifier against Oman.
The squad assembled in Mogadishu on Sunday evening with some starts arriving on Monday morning, including Oskarshamn goalkeeper Mustaf Yuusuf.
Despite playing in Sweden, Yuusuf was released for national duty amid the coronavirus lockdown, unlike New Zealand’s based Jama Boss and Mohammed Awad who are yet to link up with the team.
Somalia will play Oman on June 20 in Doha ahead of the tournament group stage that will be held after three months.
Several international stars have been named in the squad including Italy-born Abel Gigli Mohamed who turns for Serie D side Rimini, Finland-based Omar Njama among others.
Tuesday’s training session was conducted under the watchful eye of Ocean Stars new head coach Salef Abdellatif.
“The team training sessions are great and the mood at the camp is upbeat, if we keep the morale we will be able to get a positive result,” said a source at the closed doors training.
Before the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 takes place, Somalia must defeat Oman first in a head to head playoff.
Somalia has been drawn into Group A with host nation Qatar and Iraq with the other qualifier either Bahrain or Kuwait.
