(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Paul Le Guen's Red Warriors face a tough away Group D qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup on September 8 as they would have to make a tiring 20-hour-long trip to Guam shortly after hosting Turkmenistan on September 3.

The Oman Football Association (OFA) had been trying to get the Guam match moved to Muscat to avoid the lengthy trip for the Oman team that could leave the players fatigued and jet-lagged.

However the attempt seems to have failed as Oman will now have to play against the hosts at the Guam Football Association National Training Centre - just five days after the Turkmenistan match.

Confirming the qualifier will be held in Guam the OFA secretary general and CEO Sultan al Zadjali told Muscat Daily on Sunday 'We were trying to host the match but our request has been turned down by the Asian Football Confederation. We will now play the match in Guam as scheduled.'

Oman coach Le Guen had expressed his concern after the schedule was released highlighting the lengthy travel programme soon after the home game against Turkmenistan. The Red Warriors will need to be at their best physically against an unfancied Guam which took world football by storm by shocking India 2-1 in a home qualifier last month.

With a flight journey expected to take over 20 hours players will race against time to overcome fatigue and jet-lag and get ready to face the hosts.

Guam is currently on top of Group D with six points from two games. Oman is placed second with three points - thanks to a 2-1 win against India last month. Fancied Iran is third with one point from one game while Turkmenistan is fourth with one point from two games. India is yet to open its account after two outings.

Currently Oman is ranked No 101 in the world and in its most recent fixture it defeated India in an away match just days before Guam's historic victory over the Indians. During that game Guam rode the home crowd's support and played a physical and aggressive brand of football which Oman needs to be aware of.

Before the September 8 match at home Guam will play their first away game against Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on September 3. And then the Matao too would have to take a 20-hour flight back home for the Oman match.