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Morocco crowned Arab champions for the second time after thrilling final against Jordan

On a stormy night in every sense of the word, Morocco wrote a new chapter in their history books after clinching the Arab Cup title with a dramatic 3–2 victory over Jordan after extra time, in the final held at Lusail Stadium in the Qatari capital, Doha.

The final burst into life from the opening minutes, as Osama Tannane stunned everyone with a long-range strike from over 60 meters that found the Jordanian net in the fourth minute — one of the most spectacular goals in the tournament’s history. Jordan responded strongly in the second half, with Ali Olwan equalizing with a well-placed header before converting a penalty to give his side the lead and underline their impressive showing in the competition.

As the match approached its conclusion, Abdelrazak Hamdallah rescued Morocco from defeat by scoring the equalizer just two minutes before the end of regulation time, sending the game back to square one and forcing extra time amid breathless tension in the Lusail stands.

In extra time, and after a fierce battle marked by missed chances at both ends, Hamdallah had the final say, scoring the decisive goal that handed Morocco their second Arab Cup title after their first triumph in 2012, and keeping the trophy with an African nation for the third consecutive edition.

This achievement crowns a rising Moroccan trajectory that began with a historic run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and continued in the following years with a series of titles across various age categories — most notably the U-20 World Cup, the African Nations Championship and youth AFCON tournaments — alongside securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup and preparations to host the Africa Cup of Nations on Moroccan soil.

Morocco head coach Tarik Sektioui expressed great satisfaction with his players’ performance, noting that limited preparation time did not prevent the team from showing strong character and high spirit. He said: “The players proved that discipline and determination can make the difference.”

On the other hand, Jordan exited with their heads held high despite the defeat, having delivered an outstanding tournament and reached the final for the first time in their history. However, they suffered another setback at Lusail Stadium, which had previously witnessed their loss in the 2024 Asian Cup final. Despite the influential absence of top scorer Yazan Al-Naimat, the “Nashama” displayed a competitive mentality that signals a promising future, ahead of their historic upcoming participation in the World Cup.

Harsh weather conditions also played a role in the occasion, as rain and strong winds led to the cancellation of the third-place playoff and the accompanying festivities, while more than 85,000 spectators attended the final in a special national atmosphere that coincided with Qatar’s National Day.

The Lusail final was not merely a match for a title, but a complete footballing spectacle combining excitement, drama and momentum swings, ending with another Moroccan triumph that confirms the “Atlas Lions” are living through one of the brightest eras in their history.

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