Khalifa Ayil Al-Noufali

In this Arabic name, the surname is Al-Noufali.

Khalifa Ayil

Personal information
Full name	Khalifa Ayil Salim Al-Noufali
Date of birth	(1984-03-01) 1 March 1984
Place of birth	Oman
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Bowsher
Number	99
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2004	Oman	?	(?)
2004–2005	Al-Riyadh	?	(6)
2005–2009	Al-Sadd	?	(20)
2009	Al-Ittifaq	?	(?)
2009–2010	Al-Ahli	11	(1)
2010–2011	Al-Kuwait	3	(1)
2011–2012	Al-Raed	5	(0)
2012–2013	Dhofar	?
2013–2014	Al-Nahda	?
2014–	Bowsher
International career
2002–2010	Oman	67	(6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Khalifa Ayil Salim Al-Noufali (Arabic: خليفه عايل سالم النوفلي; born 1 March 1984), commonly known as Khalifa Ayil, is an Omani footballer who plays for Bowsher Club in the Oman Professional League.

Club career

Khalifa began his career with Oman Club. He quickly became a first team player for the club and after some fantastic showings he moved to a new club Al-Riyadh based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He continued to make some impressive appearances and was quickly sought out by Qatari club Al-Sadd Sports Club which resulted in a promising deal at the club.

After his impressive appearances for Al-Sadd Sports Club, Europe soon came calling for the Omani international. At first he was wanted by Arsenal FC but Al-Sadd refused to deal with the club. He then went on a trial to Spain for Celta de Vigo where a potential loan deal could be sorted out. He fell out with the Al-Sadd management and board of directors by failing to give him his dream. It was mooted around that Celta wanted to take him first on loan with a view to playing him in the reserves and then consider a permanent transfer if the player was then eligible for a transfer to the Spanish club. However, he left Celta in August 2008 with his future very much up in the air.

In 2009, he joined top Saudi Arabian football team Al-Ittifaq. Later in the same year he came back to Qatar and signed a deal with Al-Ahli SC. In 2010, he played for Kuwaiti club Al-Kuwait SC and then after one year played for Al-Raed for almost one season. After successful stints at various clubs in the GCC he came back to his home country and signed a deal with Omani giants Dhofar. Just after one season in June 2013, Ayil signed a deal with Al-Nahda Club.

On 30 September 2014, he signed a one-year contract with Bowsher Club of the Oman Professional League.

Club career statistics

Club	Season	Division	League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Al-Riyadh	2004–05	Omani League	-	6	-	0	0	0	-	0	-	6
	Total		-	6	-	0	0	0	-	0	-	6
Al-Sadd	2005–06	Qatar Stars League	-	2	-	0	0	0	-	0	-	2
	2006–07		-	4	-	2	0	0	-	0	-	6
	2007–08		-	3	-	2	0	0	-	0	-	5
	2008–09		-	1	-	1	0	0	-	0	-	2
	Total		-	10	-	5	0	0	-	0	-	15
Al-Ittifaq	2009–10	Saudi Professional League	-	0	-	0	0	0	-	2	-	2
	Total		-	0	-	0	0	0	-	2	-	2
Al-Ahli	2009–10	Qatar Stars League	-	1	-	1	0	0	-	0	-	2
	Total		-	1	-	1	0	0	-	0	-	2
Al-Kuwait	2010–11	Kuwaiti Premier League	-	1	-	0	0	0	0	0	-	1
	Total		-	1	-	0	0	0	0	0	-	1
Dhofar	2012–13	Oman Elite League	-	3	-	1	5	1	-	0	-	5
	Total		-	3	-	1	5	1	-	0	-	5
Al-Nahda	2013–14	Oman Professional League	-	3	-	0	0	0	6	1	-	4
	Total		-	3	-	0	0	0	6	1	-	4
Career total			-	24	-	7	5	1	-	3	-	35

International career

Gulf Cup of Nations

Amad has made appearances in the 2003 Gulf Cup of Nations, the 2004 Gulf Cup of Nations, the 2007 Gulf Cup of Nations and the 2009 Gulf Cup of Nations.

He scored a goal in the 2004 Gulf Cup of Nations in a 3-1 win over Iraq hence helping his country to reach the semi-finals and then the finals of the Gulf Cup of Nations for the first time. But Oman lost in the final to the hosts, Qatar in a penalty shootout after the goalkeeping sensation Ali Al-Habsi missed a penalty. Qatar won the match 6-5 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1 at normal time. Amad Al-Hosni was awarded with the "Top Goal Scorer" award of the competition.

AFC Asian Cup

Khalifa has made appearances in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification, the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification.

He scored a goal in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification in a 1-2 loss against Australia. Oman failed to qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

FIFA World Cup qualification

Khalifa has made five appearances in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification and five in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification.

He scored a brace in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|second round of 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]] in a 7-0 win over Singapore.

National team career statistics

Goals for senior national team

Scores and results list Oman's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	9 June 2004	Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman	Singapore	2–0	7–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	9 June 2004	Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman	Singapore	5–0	7–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	1 December 2004	Manama, Bahrain	Latvia	2-0	3-2	Friendly
4	10 December 2004	Doha, Qatar	Iraq	3-0	3-1	2004 Gulf Cup of Nations
5	13 February 2006	Muscat, Oman	Iraq	1-0	1-0	Friendly
6	21 November 2008	Muscat, Oman	Kenya	2-1	2-2	Friendly
7	30 January 2008	Muscat, Oman	Kuwait	1-0	1-1	Friendly
8	15 November 2009	Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman	Australia	1-0	1-2	2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Style of play

Khalifa is naturally a centre-back, although he is a versatile player and can play as a defensive midfielder too. Due to his aggressiveness, he has had a few disciplinary problems in his career. He is known for his spectacular long range shooting skills which he has demonstrated at both the club and country level on a regular basis.

Honours

Club

• With Al-Kuwait
  • Kuwait Crown Prince Cup (1): 2011
• With Al-Nahda
  • Oman Professional League (1): 2013-14
  • Sultan Qaboos Cup (0): Runner-up 2013

External links

• Khalifa Ayil – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Khalifa Ayil at Soccerway
• Khalifa Ayil at Goal.com
• Khalifa Ayil Al Naufali at FootballDatabase.eu
• Khalifa Ayil at Goalzz.com (also in Arabic at Kooora.com)