CISM 2nd World Football Cup – Muscat (OMA)
COMPETITION DAY 9 – FINALS
OMAN IS THE NEW FOOTBALL MILITARY WORLD CHAMPION!
MUSCAT (OMA) – Yesterday, January 28, was the last day of competition of the 2nd CISM World Football Cup, which took place in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. Two big games were scheduled: the host country Oman was facing Qatar in the mold medal game while Syria and Egypt were confronted for the bronze medal game.
Bronze Medal Game: Egypt vs Syria - 2-2 (2-2 AET, 5-6 Penalty)
The first game of the day started with the struggle for the bronze medal between Egypt and Syria in the Seeb Sports Stadium. Their first confrontation during the group phase ended with a 0-0 draw and a game with few chances. This game was completely different as #24 Abdelhadim scored the opener just two minutes after the start of the game. Egypt was dominating and put Syria under pressure. However, surprisingly, #7 Hamdkou scored the equalizer with a stunning strike (35’). The referee blew the whistle on a 1-1 draw. As Egyptian players wanted to avoid a new extra time, #22 Youssef scored his fifth goal of the Cup and gave a 2-1 lead to Egypt. Egypt was heading directly to the bronze medal but in the first minutes of the additional time of the second half, #99 Al Waked scored the equalizer, meaning a new extra period for the exhausted Egyptian players. The score did not evolve and finally, Syria won the bronze medal at the end of a long a full of suspense penalty shootout session (6-5)!
Gold Medal Game: Oman vs Qatar – 0-0 (0-0 AET, 4-1 Penalty)
The Gold Medal Game took place yesterday in the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in presence of Colonel Abdulhakeem Alshino (BRN) - CISM President, Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita (GUI) - CISM Secretary General, Brigadier-General Aboubacar Biro Condé (GUI), Captain Rudi Fell (GER), Colonel Abdulraheem Bello (NGR) - CISM 2nd World Football Cup Project Manager, Lieutenant General PSC Ahmed bin Harith bin Nasser Al Nabhani - Chief of Staff of the Sultan's Armed Forces and Chief of the Organizing Committee, Lieutenant-Colonel Khalid Al Jabri, Vice-Chief of Oman Organizing Committee.
More than 20000 spectators attended the game. Unfortunately, for the spectators, the players did not produced a great performance. The importance of the stake, the saves from the goalkeepers and the clumsiness and the tiredness of the players prevented the players from scoring any goal during the game. The extra time was also free from goals and it was then time for the inherent tension and drama of the penalty kick shootout. Both teams converted their first shootout. The second and third Omani shooters didn’t cracked under the pressure and scored their attempt, while the two Qatari players fired above the goal and on the crossbar giving Oman the opportunity to score the victorious shootout. #10 Al Khaldi scored a magnificent penalty just under the crossbar and delivered his nation (4-1). Under an amazing atmosphere, Oman became the new titleholder of the 2nd CISM World Football Cup!!!
After the celebrations, the CISM President, Colonel Abdulhakeem Alshino, proceeded to the Awarding Ceremony. In addition to the medal, four awards were also distributed: #99 Al Waked (SYR) is the Top Scorer of the tournament with six goals in six games, #88 Al Rashidi (OMA) was elected as the Best Keeper of the tournament, #11 Al Haddad (QAT) won the trophy of the Best Player while Mali won the Fair Play Trophy.
Congratulations to Oman for the title and this wonderful organization and see you soon for the next CISM events of this wonderful year 2017!
For more information, please visit the official website of the second CISM World Football Cup Organizing Committee: www.cismoman2017.om or their official Facebook page: CISM Oman 2017.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)
(Pictures: Eddy Kellens, CISM Photographer - Jonathan Verhoeft, CISM Photographer)
