Oman officially appoint new manager to replace former Sir Alex Ferguson assistant

Muscat – The Oman Football Association has moved swiftly to fill its managerial vacancy, naming Moroccan coach Tarik Sektioui as the new helmsman of the senior national team. Sektioui steps into the role vacated by Carlos Queiroz, the former Manchester United assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, whose tenure was cut short by regional instability.

An official statement released on the federation’s X account confirmed the appointment: “The Oman Football Association announces its signing of Moroccan coach Tarek Al-Sektiwi to lead the senior national team during the upcoming phase.”

Sektioui arrives with a burgeoning reputation forged in his homeland. After taking charge of Morocco’s Olympic side in 2024, he guided the national squad to the 2025 Arab Cup title in Qatar, a triumph that reportedly caught the eye of Omani officials seeking a fresh direction.

The 44-year-old’s first assignment will come at the end of March when Oman host Sierra Leone in an international friendly, offering an early glimpse of the tactical approach he intends to imprint on the squad.

Queiroz, whose coaching pedigree was honed during two spells alongside Ferguson at Old Trafford, had overseen Oman’s fortunes since 2008. His departure leaves the Portuguese tactician at a career crossroads, though sources close to the veteran expect a flurry of offers given his résumé, which includes a one-year stint in charge of Real Madrid.

For Oman, the appointment signals a desire to harness Sektioui’s continental insight and attacking philosophy as the federation targets qualification success in forthcoming regional competitions.