Morocco defeated Jordan 3-2 with Osama Tannanu’s attack from inside their own half setting the tone for a great final.
In the final against Jordan at the tournament hosted by Qatar, Morocco won 3-2 in extra time thanks to Osama Tannanu’s incredible goal from inside their own half, en route to their second FIFA Arab Cup title.
On Thursday, the sold-out crowd at Doha’s Lusail Stadium was on its feet four minutes into the game, as Qatar-based footballer Tannane fired a shot from well beyond the halfway line (an estimated 59 meters) that clipped goalkeeper Yazeed Abraila.
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Jordan’s keeper desperately ran back into his own half to stop the shot and collided with the post, resulting in a lengthy four-minute stoppage before play was allowed to continue and play resumed.
Jordan’s comeback to take the lead was just the beginning of a turbulent final that sent the game into extra time, leaving Jordan with a heartbreak just seconds away from winning their first FIFA Arab Cup in normal times.
Jordan, who lost to the 2025 AFC Asian Cup finalists, equalized that night three minutes into the second period when Ali Oliwan came off his marker and headed in a superb corner kick from close range.
Jordan took the lead for the first time when Mahmoud Almardi’s shot hit the raised hand of Achraf El Mahdioui inside the box and Oliwan converted a penalty in the 68th minute for his second goal.
However, the drama was not over yet. Abdelzak Hamdallah, who came on as a substitute in the second half, scored the equalizer in the 88th minute by hitting the ball across the goal line from a scramble from a corner kick.
However, it was Oliwan who had the chance for glory with virtually the last kick of the regular season, but although he drove a clean through goal he was unable to beat the keeper, sealing what would have been a hat-trick for Jordan in the final.
Many may not have been seated for Tannane’s opener, but the same may have been true at the start of extra time. Mohanad Abutaha fired a superb left-footed volley from the left edge of the box into the top right corner of the goal. Like Tannane, it was the shot that deserved to win the final, but the controversial handball goal was ruled out by VAR as the Jordanian controlled the ball before firing.
To make matters worse, Hamdallah tapped in for the second time and scored the winning goal after Marwane Saadan’s bicycle kick from a set-piece gently went into Hamdallah’s path from close range.
Morocco won the Arab Cup in 2012, defeating Libya in the final in Saudi Arabia. The Atlas Lions will replace Algeria, which defeated North African neighbor Tunisia in the final four years ago.
Morocco dominated the first period and Tannane, who plays for Umm Salar in the Qatari League, had a brilliant chance to double their lead just before half-time when Abulaila crossed in, but the forward was unable to connect the follow-up with his left foot and Essam Smail slid off his line.
The Jordanian stopper had to stay on his feet throughout the first period and made his best save in the 17th minute with a drive across the face of goal from the edge of the box after Karim El Berkaoui played a one-two with Tannane, only for Abulaira to equalize low on the right and push his shot wide.
After achieving the feat in Qatar 2022 and becoming the first African country to reach the World Cup semi-finals, Morocco will now focus on hosting the 2025 African Cup of Nations. There, the team will be further strengthened by a number of European-based star players who had to prioritize club over country in the Arab Cup.
The FIFA Arab Cup sold more than 1 million tickets for the 2025 tournament, double the sales for the previous tournament four years ago.
