Morocco Hopes to Complete a "Great Year".. Jordan Dreams of an "Unprecedented Title"
Morocco hopes to end a successful year with the Arab Cup, while Jordan dreams of its first-ever title.
SUMMARY
Morocco aims to complete a successful year by winning the Arab Cup football tournament, while Jordan dreams of achieving its first-ever title in the final held at Lusail Stadium, featuring Moroccan coaches and defensive and offensive challenges.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Morocco achieved significant successes in 2022 and qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
- Jordan, led by Moroccan coach Jamal Salami, dreams of its first title.
- Morocco has a solid defense, conceding only one goal in five matches.
- Jordan's top scorer Yazan Al-Naimat is absent due to a knee injury.
CORE SUBJECT
Arab Cup football final between Morocco and Jordan
Morocco hopes to end a year full of successes across various age groups, but winning the Arab Cup football tournament today, Thursday, at Lusail Stadium faces the resilience of Jordan, which dreams of its first-ever title.
After its historic achievement at the 2022 World Cup, also in Qatar, when it became the first African and Arab team to reach the semifinals, the pace of successes in Moroccan football has accelerated. This year, Morocco qualified for the 2026 World Cup, won the U-20 World Cup in Chile, the African Nations Championship, and the U-17 African Cup.
Morocco tasted the title once before in 2012, while Jordan's best result remains finishing fourth in 1988 on home soil.
Both teams deserved to reach the final after topping their groups in the first round, then Morocco defeated Syria 1-0 in the quarterfinals and the UAE 3-0 in the semifinals, while Jordan beat Iraq and Saudi Arabia by the same scoreline of 1-0.
The match carries a Moroccan flavor, as Jordan is coached by Moroccan Jamal Salami, who will face his compatriot Tarik Sektioui.
Salami said, "I am very happy to meet my brother and friend Tarik.. We have won all our matches.. For me, it is a great honor to work with these players."
After overcoming his other friend, the French Hervé Renard, in the semifinals, Salami must find offensive solutions without his top scorer Yazan Al-Naimat, who suffered a severe knee injury in the quarterfinals.
Jordan's offensive task will be even more difficult against a solid Moroccan defense that conceded only one goal in five matches, against Comoros (1-3).
Moroccan goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid said, "The team is very strong defensively; we start defending from the first line. When the opponent tries to attack, we quickly retreat and close the spaces, making it very difficult for them to exploit these chances."
Defender Soufiane Bouftini added, "I love protecting my goal, I hate conceding goals, and when it happens, I remain angry for hours after the match. Because this is my job: to keep the net intact."
KEYWORDS
MENTIONED ENTITIES 8
Morocco
📍 Location_CountryMoroccan national football team
Jordan
📍 Location_CountryJordanian national football team
Jamal Salami
👤 Person_MaleMoroccan coach of the Jordan national team
Tarik Sektioui
👤 Person_MaleMoroccan coach of the Morocco national team
Yazan Al-Naimat
👤 Person_MaleInjured top scorer of the Jordan national team
Mehdi Benabid
👤 Person_MaleGoalkeeper of the Morocco national team
Soufiane Bouftini
👤 Person_MaleDefender of the Morocco national team
Lusail Stadium
📍 Location_CityVenue of the Arab Cup final
NOTABLE QUOTES 3
"I am very happy to meet my brother and friend Tarik.. We have won all our matches.. For me, it is a great honor to work with these players."
Context: Statement before the final match between Jordan and Morocco
"The team is very strong defensively; we start defending from the first line. When the opponent tries to attack, we quickly retreat and close the spaces, making it very difficult for them to exploit these chances."
Context: Talking about the strength of the Moroccan defense
"I love protecting my goal, I hate conceding goals, and when it happens, I remain angry for hours after the match. Because this is my job: to keep the net intact."
Context: Expressing the defender's commitment to not conceding goals