Morocco won the 11th edition of the FIFA Arab Cup with an action-packed 3–2 victory over Jordan in the final.
Exactly three years on from the unforgettable 2022 FIFA World Cup final, Lusail Stadium once again hosted the coronation of a champion. This time, it was the Arab world that came together in Qatar for the FIFA Arab Cup.
After 29 matches over 18 days, Morocco and Jordan were the last two teams left in contention for the title. The Atlas Lions had previously won the tournament in 2012, while Jordan were appearing in their first Arab Cup final, just a few years after losing the Asian Cup final at the same venue.
Before kick-off, there were concerns that the match would not go ahead at all. An unusually heavy downpour in Doha led to the suspension of the third-place match between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, raising doubts about the final. While several events were cancelled due to the weather, the showpiece match proceeded as planned.
Tens of thousands of fans braved thunderstorms to pack Lusail Stadium, and they were rewarded just minutes into the game. Oussama Tannane opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort from inside Morocco’s own half, giving the Atlas Lions an early lead.
Jordan were unable to find an equaliser before the break, but tournament top scorer Ali Olwan levelled the match just two minutes into the second half with a powerful header. He then put Jordan ahead from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, setting up a dramatic finish.
Morocco’s pressure paid off late on when substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah turned the ball in from close range just three minutes before full time, sending the match into extra time. The veteran striker struck again in the 100th minute, restoring Morocco’s lead. This time, the Atlas Lions held firm to seal a memorable victory.
source/content: dohanews.co (headline edited)
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