Sport | Football
Gulf Cup stays in Muscat as qualifiers move
UAE hope to defend their title in Muscat as January dates are approved.
- By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:47 August 23, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Oman FA officials have announced that the 19th Gulf Cup will be held in Muscat as planned from January 4 to 17 of next year having received the consent of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The AFC agreed to postpone the regional tournament as matches would clash with qualifiers for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar. The Asian Cup qualifiers were scheduled to begin on January 14 but will now be held at a later date.
The UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Yemen will take part in the regional tournament in which the UAE hopes to defend its title in Muscat.
Iraq, the defending champions of the Asian Cup, Saudi Arabia, the runners up and hosts Qatar, will not take part in the qualification matches of the Asian Cup.
Khalid Bin Hamad Al Busaeedi, the Chairman of Oman Football Association, thanked AFC officials for their understanding and cooperation, giving teams the opportunity to compete in the Gulf Cup, an essential part of preparations ahead of the qualifiers for the Asian Cup.
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