Watching Jordan’s players on the pitch, in training, or as they leave the stadium post-match, one senses something different about this side – or rather, this family. The spirit within the group is palpable even from a distance. They truly do play as one, every man a tireless fighter with a resolve that can melt away any obstacle on the pitch. That steely determination has now propelled them to the semi-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ following a 1-0 victory over Iraq.
The obstacles that Iraq presented were considerable – they rank among Asia’s strongest outfits and are still in the running to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ – but that was not the only source of complication for Jordan. The injury sustained by Yazan Al Naimat, one of the most gifted and popular players both within the camp and among fans, cast a noticeable gloom over the entire squad.
Yet once again, Jordan found a way. They may have struggled in the second half against Iraq, but their resilience was equally striking. Speaking to FIFA after the match, Jordan standout Saed Al Rosan remarked on the highs and lows.
“Our joy is reduced today because of Yazan Al Naimat’s injury. We hope it’s not a serious one, so he can get back to us as soon as possible,” Al Rosan said “We put in a massive performance, but the knockout rounds have their own demands. We faced a strong opponent, followed the coach’s instructions to the letter, and came away with the victory.”
Mohammad Abu Hashish, who opened the scoring in Jordan’s win over Egypt, offered insight into the dressing room atmosphere, noting that the players’ spritis dipped during the second half. “The injury to our teammate Yazan Al Naimat was a blow to our morale after he had to leave the match so early,” Abu Hashish said. But everyone showed real responsibility, and in the end we were rewarded with the win.”
Abu Hashish said Jordan fully earned their place in the semi-finals. “We deserve to be in the semi-finals; we didn’t get here by chance,” he said. “The next match will be tough, and we’ll prepare for it properly. We hope to deliver a performance worthy of the Jordanian national team.”
Overcoming adversity is second nature to Jordanians – hence the team’s nickname, Nashama, meaning “chivalrous ones”. But the squad’s tight-knit atmosphere has also played an important role in all this success, as noted by Player of the Match winner Yazeed Abulaila.
“God helped me today, and my parents and the fans – their prayers also lift us. The atmosphere within the team plays a big part, so I thank my fellow goalkeepers (Nour Bani Attiah and Malek Shalabiya), the goalkeeping coach and everyone who has supported me,” Abulaila said. “Coach (Jamal Sellami) told me today that the burden would be heavy on my shoulders, and I told him I was ready for the challenge. Thank God, I made a promise and I delivered. And God willing, the best is yet to come.”
FIFA also had the opportunity to talk to Nour Bani Attiah, the hero of the Egypt match with his clean sheet, and asked him about Abulaila’s remarks.
“My relationship with Yazeed goes well beyond football. We’ve been friends since we were on the U-17 and U-20 teams,” he said. “Today he was the man of the match. We thank him for what he did, and God willing, what’s to come will be even better.”
Al Rosan underlined the same point: “Winning four matches is testament to the excellent work of the coaching staff and the atmosphere of genuine affection within the squad. Our relationships off the pitch are great, and it shows in the way we play.”
Al Rosan played down the significance of the second-half struggles, focusing instead on what he sees as the key takeaway: Jordan stood firm, fought hard and sealed their fourth straight win in the tournament.
“The most important thing in knockout games is to win,” he said. “We played at a high level throughout the group stage, but what mattered today was to qualify for the next round, regardless of any other considerations. We scored in the first half, and yes, we faced significant pressure in the second half, but we managed to hold on to the lead and secure the victory.”
Jordan’s semi-final against Saudi Arabia will take place on Monday, 15 December, at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
