There is no reason why the peruvian national team should be entrusted this June 13 in Doha. Whichever opponent you have in front of you in the playoffs, it’s important to remain cautious. And it is that both Australia and United Arab Emirates they have all the necessary ingredients -just like the ‘Blanquirroja’- to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Two and a half years absent.
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Omar Abdulrahman He comes from a Yemeni family, who emigrated to Saudi Arabia in search of better opportunities. Precisely in the capital of that country, Riyadh, the ‘genius’ of Arab football was born (September 20, 1991), although his nationality is different from the one that might be distinguished in his birth certificate.
It happens that the enormous talent of Omar, the youngest of six brothers, was discovered when he was playing with children twice his age in the streets. The little boy, with peculiar waves in his hair, subtly impressed anyone who looked at him with the ball. And so he passed an Al-Hilal scout, who gaped at him.
In this way, ‘Amoory’, as he is known, passed tests in the youth categories of none other than Al-Hilal, the best team in Saudi Arabia. It was a dream. But it was very short. Because his family situation was complicated -foreign migrants-, Omar’s father agreed to sign a contract for the services of his son on the condition that the club nationalize all family members, but that did not it was possible. The blue institution only offered the Saudi passport to the child prodigy.
The offer was then rejected, but Abdulrahman did not have to wait long for doors to open elsewhere. In fact, he was presented with the great opportunity precisely in another country: United Arab Emirates. The board of Al-Ain, the most representative club in that country, was amazed at the boy’s talent and did not hesitate to add him to her academy, in addition to granting nationality to her siblings and parents.
It was from there that the football adventure of Omar Abdulrahman pointed in a more serious direction. The Emirati footballer began to shine at Al-Ain, debuting at just 17 years old in 2009 and earning -without much trouble- the title in his team thanks to his undeniable talent.
Since he was young, ‘Amoory’ has emerged as the great star of Emirati football and it is not for less. However, the constant injuries have been a torment that he has not been able to escape. At the beginning of his career, he suffered a torn cruciate ligament that kept him away from the courts for eight months. He recovered, but in the course of his football journey he suffered from other injuries.
The ‘Arab Messi’
It hasn’t taken long for Abdulrahman to establish himself as the leading figure in his region. In Al-Ain, the then young prodigy relieved Jorge ‘El Mago’ Valdivia with the ’10’ on his back, a number that he has fully dignified with his exquisite quality on the ball.
And it is that Omar is one of those players who are almost never seen on a soccer field. He has natural gifts, which everyone would like to have, but only he can. He masters a myriad of ‘skills’, which make him look like a street freestyler. And he has been compared on several occasions to Lionel Messi himself. In fact, they call him the ‘Arab Messi’.
“He is a talented player, who usually plays as an attacking midfielder, but who can also play as a winger. He is ambidextrous, he has a goal, but his greatest virtue is ratings or assists. He also is usually the one who takes the corner kicks and free kicks ”highlights Ienzo Duartea member of AlterFútbol, a portal that focuses on analyzing and disseminating football from little-followed latitudes in our region such as Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean.
The first time ‘Amoory’ exposed his talents to the world was at the 2012 London Olympics, shortly following overcoming another torn ACL. Although he did not go beyond the group stage of the tournament with the United Arab Emirates Under 23, the Emirati impressed locals and strangers alike with his great skills.
Thanks to his exceptional performance, which was praised in various parts of the world, the Emirati player passed tests in none other than Manchester City, who sought to sign him unsuccessfully, since the English Football Association denied the work permit due to his poor performance. international experience.
“To obtain a work permit, he needed to have played 75% of the matches for his national team in the last 2 years, and he was barely 20 years old. In addition, Emirates (121 in FIFA ranking) was below the required ranking (70) to be able to hire him “clarifies Ienzo Duarte.
It was thus that Omar Abdulrahman stayed away from the media spotlight. He continued his career to Al-Ain until 2018, despite the fact that teams like Benfica, Arsenal, Liverpool and Galatasaray became interested in his services in the meantime. He, predestined for better things, preferred to turn his back on the highest level in Europe. He was comfortable being the leading figure in his country.
“Arab players usually feel very comfortable playing in their country. They have very good contracts and are considered stars in their countries. So they don’t have much of an incentive to play outside. Unless they leave young when they don’t shine yet. That might have happened if he went to Manchester City, but then he decided to stay. It happens a lot in the region”explains Duarte.
In Al-Ain, Omar delighted with his great talent for nine years, winning 11 titles, among which four Gulf Leagues stand out. In addition, he touched on continental glory by being runner-up in the 2015/16 Asian Champions League, being the MVP of the competition.
After that, he signed for Al-Hilal, where he shared a dressing room with André Carrillo in a season that spent more time outside than inside the courts. It happens that Omar was injured once more in the cruciate ligament and might only play six games – he scored a goal and gave an assist – in his stage with the ‘Blue Tide’.
Leaving Al-Hilal unceremoniously, Abdulrahman continued his career at Al-Jazira, where he also spent a good deal of time sidelined with a knee injury in his second year (2020/21). Currently, he plays for Shabab Al Ahli, a club with which he is having continuity once more. Since April, the month in which he definitively returned to the pitch, he has played 13 games (six in the Asian Champions League) with a positive record of two goals and three assists.
back to selection
With the U-23 he had already shown what he was made of, being runner-up in the Asian Games and winning the Gulf Cup of that category in 2010. After also dazzling in the 2012 Olympic Games, Omar Abdulrahman he has been constantly called up by the United Arab Emirates senior team.
His star poster that he already had in those years did not fit him well. He always responded on the field, marveling at his special virtues on the field. In fact, in 2013 his sublime contribution was enough for the UAE to win the second Gulf Cup in its history, being chosen the MVP of the tournament following a superb individual performance.
Two years later, ‘Amoory’ aimed for glory with his team in the Asian Cup following another magnificent performance, but had to settle for third place in the competition. In 2017 he was runner-up in the Gulf Cup, missing a penalty in the final.
| Equipment | titles |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates national team | – U23 Gulf Cup 2010 – 2013 Gulf Cup *Asian Games U23 runner-up 2010 *2017 Gulf Cup Runner-up |
| Al-Ain (2009-2018) 11 titles |
– 4 Arab League of the Gulf – 3 President Cup – 3 Super Cups – 1 Emirates Cup |
| Al Hilal (2018/19) 1 title |
– 1 Saudi Arabian Super Cup *Saudi Professional League runner-up |
| Al-Jazira (2019-2021) 3 titles |
– 1 Arab League of the Gulf – 1 Emirates Cup – 1 President Cup |
| Shabab Al-Ahli (2021-actual) | * Super Cup runner-up * Emirates Cup runner-up |
Total he has played 67 official matches with his national team, having scored 11 goals. Of course, we must bear in mind that for the Qualifiers for Qatar 2022, Omar Abdulrahman only played four games with the UAE.
Due to injuries, the Emirati has been absent with his national team since November 2019 (he played 81 minutes once morest Vietnam). But he is already back. Rodolfo Arruabarrena opted for the return of the genius, who with 30 years on top of him wants to give his country the World Cup qualification.
Omar Abdulrahman defended the colors of the United Arab Emirates once more in last weekend’s friendly once morest Gambia and now hopes to be at his best to face Australia in the Asian playoff. If he wins that match, he will be cited in the continental playoff once morest Peru, which should have this player well referenced.
“The virtues go through his style of play. The skill, the dribble, the pass. Although now he is already 30 years old and has several injuries in tow. We will see what Arruabarrena decides, but it seems to me that he is going to fight for the title as a creative midfielder. Although most likely he will be the main spare part of him ”points out Ienzo Duarte.
“Any skillful player with the ability to create plays out of nothing is dangerous. But with a record like the one Peru has had in the final stretch of the tie, and pressing him as soon as he receives the ball, I think he can be neutralized. Still, special care should be taken.”Add.
