Oman and Senegal compete for first Olympics football qualification

By David Gold

March 30 – Oman will face Senegal at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, next month for a place at the London 2012 Olympic football tournament after a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan on Thursday.

The win means Oman topped a three-team group which also included Syria at a final Asian preliminary qualifying tournament in Hanoi, Vietnam.

It was a remarkable result for Oman, whose participation at this stage coach Paul Le Guen said was “a miracle”, having reached this stage after being awarded a 3-0 win against Qatar in the last round of qualifying when the 2022 World Cup hosts fielded an ineligible player.

Syria had drawn 1-1 with Oman in their opening game of the final Asian qualifying stage before a 2-1 defeat to Uzbekistan ended their Olympic hopes.

“I am very proud of my players and we deserved this,” Le Guen said afterwards.

“The first game was very good and this game was more difficult but our state of mind was perfect.

“It was a great performance from us to win 2-0.”

Oman (pictured) will now face Senegal, who finished in fourth place at the African qualifying tournament last year, for the final spot at the London Olympic football tournament.

The winner of the playoff, which doubles up as an official London 2012 football test event, will be competing at their first ever Olympic Games, and gets underway at 7.45 BST.

After Oman’s victory, Justine Hewitt, events manager at the City of Coventry Stadium, said: “It will be the first time that either nation has qualified for the Games so there is a great deal at stake.

“This will be the first taste of live action in the Olympics in Coventry and we hope as many people as possible will come along to give both teams their full support.”

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