FIFA Arab Cup
Jordan struggled to break down Saudi Arabia for more than an hour at Al Bayt Stadium before Nizar Al Rashdan nodded home the winner in the 66th minute to book a final showdown against Morocco on Thursday.
Jamous, who came on as an 85th minute substitute, said Al Naimat’s injury 15 minutes into their quarter-final tie against Iraq put the team under pressure, but also served as motivation to reach the final.
“It’s a historic victory. For the first time, we’ve reached the FIFA Arab Cup final. The team gave everything on the field. Despite facing tough challenges – including losing captain Yazan Al Naimat through injury,” said Jamous.
“That really affected us mentally and put pressure on us as well. However, we stayed committed and it gave us extra motivation not just for Jordan but to honour our captain Al Naimat.
“Today we saw incredible spirit. We thank our fans for being present, and many thanks to the people of Jordan. We are grateful to reach the final. The mission isn’t over yet – we have one more important challenge against a strong Moroccan team.”
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami was brimming with pride after seeing his side reach the final for the first time since featuring in the inaugural edition in 1963.
“The team showed up when it mattered, and the atmosphere was incredible. They were well-prepared and deserving of this victory,” said Sellami. “We are growing step by step in this competition and we still have one game left, in the final. Amazing vibes all around, and we keep improving with every challenge.”
Herve Renard cut a forlorn figure following Saudi Arabia’s exit but acknowledged that his side lost to a better team.
“I congratulate the Jordanian national team. The result is not good. We played against a team with strong defensive qualities, and we didn’t have the options. We lost because of Jordan’s good passing,” said head coach Renard.
“The national team is very important for the players. Today we played defensively with counter-attacks. The style of play is different between the two teams, but the players performed well. They weren’t bad. We must continue our effort, and players must understand they are playing for their country.
"We will play the third-place match. The tournament isn’t over yet. It’s better to finish the tournament in the best possible way. It’s painful to suffer this loss today. We are all disappointed, but starting tomorrow we will prepare for the next challenge.”
Saudi Arabia will face the United Arab Emirates, who suffered a 3-0 defeat to Morocco earlier on Monday.
Head coach Cosmin Olaroiu was left frustrated after Morocco capitalised on defensive lapses with Karim El Berkaoui’s opening the scoring, followed by strikes form Aschraf El Mahdioui and Abderrazak Hamdallah sealing the win.
UAE showed promise throughout the tournament, advancing past Egypt and defending champions Algeria, lifting spirits after last month’s disappointment against Iraq in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Playoffs Knockout Stage second leg.
“Losing by three goals does not reflect the reality of the match. We took risks in the final minutes against Morocco, conceded two goals and lost the match,” said Olaroiu.
“We suffered from fatigue after facing Algeria. We also had one less day of rest than the Moroccan team, but this is not an excuse.”
Despite the defeat, Olaroiu wants UAE to focus on finishing the tournament strongly when they take on Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
“Now we have one last match, and we will play it with the desire to secure third place.”
Photos: AFP
