*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 March 2019
Mohammed Abdullah Mubarak al-Balushi (Arabic: محمد عبدالله مبارك البلوشي; born 27 August 1989), commonly known as Mohammed al-Sheiba, is an Omanifootballer who plays for Al-Nahda Club.[1]
Career
Mohammed Al-Balushi is the first Omani player to play professionally in Africa[2] when he was loaned in 2008 to Al-Ahly (Tripoli)[3] of Libya. He then moved to Al-Arabi SC where he played for a full season and displayed a great performance with the club and with the Oman national football team. His solid defensive abilities plus the gift to score goals made him a target to a number of international clubs such as AJ Auxerre[4] and some regional giants such as Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia).[5]
But on 22 July 2009, Al-Wasl FC of the UAE won the race and signed the gifted Omani footballer for a season long loan.[6] Before the end of the season, "Al Shaiba" proved his worth, and accepted a four-year contract from Al-Wasl FC.[7] On 29 December 2013, Sheiba signed for his first club Al-Nahda Club for a period of 6 months.[8]
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, he scored one goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round|fourth round]] in a 1–1 draw against Iraq.[9] Oman entered the last game of group play with a chance to qualify for at least the playoff-round, but a 1–0 loss to Jordan eliminated them from contention.[10]
