FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025: Morocco crowns itself by defeating Jordan

Morocco crowned itself the champion of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 by defeating Jordan in extra time in a thrilling final. The historic match, played in Qatar, added another golden chapter to Morocco's football history, where they gained worldwide recognition by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Arab Cup final match between Morocco and Jordan brought back memories of the 2022 World Cup final, as Morocco, despite being twice behind, prevented Jordan from winning its first Arab Cup and lifted the trophy in a spectacular manner.

Othmane Tanane gave the Atlas Lions the lead with a magnificent long-range goal, however, Jordan responded gloriously in the second half through the tournament's top scorer Ali Olwan. The forward equalized just three minutes after the restart, heading home from close range after a quickly taken corner by Mahand Abou Tahah. Midway through the half, Jordan was awarded a penalty, which Olwan converted to give Jordan the lead once again.

Morocco pressed hard for an equalizer and two minutes from time, a corner fell to Hamdallah, who scored from close range. In the 100th minute of extra time, Hamdallah scored again to give his team a decisive 3-2 lead, prompting Moroccan fans to erupt in celebration. Earlier in the day, the third-place match between Saudi Arabia and the UAE was postponed indefinitely due to bad weather, with FIFA confirming that the decision on third place would be made by the relevant committee at an appropriate time.

Under the guidance of Tarik Sektioui, Morocco's team played with the best defensive line throughout the tournament, having conceded only one goal in the entire tournament prior to the final. On the other hand, Jordan's team also showed an impressive performance, which will participate in the FIFA World Cup for the first time next year. The tournament concluded on the occasion of Qatar's National Day, completing a glorious football season in the Gulf state. The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 featured 16 African and Asian teams from the Arab world, with all matches played in the six stadiums that hosted the 2022 World Cup. The Atlas Lions' victory is proof of their continued dominance in the football world.