Ahmed Mubarak Obaid al-Mahaijri (; born 23 February 1985), commonly known as Ahmed Mubarak or Ahmed Kano, is an Omani professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Kano has previously played for various clubs in GCC countries with clubs like Al-Wehda Club, Al-Ahli SC, Al-Fateh SC and Ettifaq FC of KSA, Al Ain S.C.C. and Dubai C.S.C. of the UAE, Al-Wakra, Al Rayyan Sports Club and Al-Sailiya Sport Club of Qatar and Al Naser Sporting Club of Kuwait. On 5 September 2013, he signed a one-year contract with 2012âÂÂ13 Oman Elite League runners-up Fanja SC. On 13 July 2014, he signed a one-year contract with his first professional club Al-Oruba SC.
Kano was a part of the first team squad of the Oman national football team. He was selected for the national team for the first time in 2003, along with Ahmed Hadid, Badar Al-Maimani and Ali Al-Habsi.
Kano has made appearances in the 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, and the 2017 editions of the Arabian Gulf Cup. In the 2003 edition of the tournament, he scored one goal in an important 2âÂÂ0 win against the United Arab Emirates. In the 2014 edition, he scored one goal in a close 1âÂÂ1 draw against Iraq. And in the 2017 edition, he managed to score a critical penalty kick in a difficult 1âÂÂ0 win against the hosts Kuwait.
Kano won the most valuable player award of the 2017 Gulf Cup for his role in the success of the Omani team tournament campaign.
Kano has made appearances in the 2004 Asian Cup qualifiers, the 2004 Asian Cup, the 2007 Asian Cup qualifiers, the 2007 Asian Cup, the 2011 Asian Cup qualifiers, the 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers, the 2015 Asian Cup, and the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Kano has made a total of four appearances in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, six in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and fourteen in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he scored one goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Japan. He scored three goals in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The first one came in the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Myanmar, and the other two goals were scored in the fourth round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, one in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Jordan and another in a 1âÂÂ2 loss against Japan. Oman entered the last game of group play with a chance to qualify for at least the playoff-round, but a 1âÂÂ0 loss to Jordan eliminated them from the competition.
Notes:
Al-Oruba
Al-Ain
Al-Rayyan
Al-Sailiya
Al-Ahli
Al-Ettifaq
Fanja