Morocco’s national team clinched the Arab Cup title for the second time in its history, following an exciting 3-2 victory over Jordan in the final. The match, held on Thursday evening at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, extended into extra time as part of the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Abdelrazak Hamdallah led his national team to the title by scoring two decisive goals after coming on as a substitute, turning Morocco’s deficit into a dramatic victory. This win granted the “Atlas Lions” the title of the eleventh edition of the championship, which was held for the second time under the supervision of FIFA.
The tournament saw Jordan’s Ali Alwan crowned as the competition’s top scorer, while Moroccan goalkeeper Mehdi Benabid received the award for best goalkeeper, and team captain Mohamed Harramat was named the tournament’s best player.
Moroccan Dominance and a Fiery Start
The Moroccan national team entered the match with force, imposing its rhythm from the first minutes. They opened the scoring early through Oussama Tannane, who fired a long-range shot that settled in the Jordanian net in the 4th minute, giving his team the advantage.
Despite Morocco’s control of the game’s flow and possession, the Jordanian national team maintained its defensive balance and succeeded in limiting the danger of attacks for the remainder of the first half.
Morocco wins the Arab Cup title after a dramatic victory over Jordan
Jordanian Resurgence in the Second Half
At the start of the second half, the Jordanian national team quickly managed to get back into the match. Ali Alwan equalized with a header before adding a second goal from a penalty kick, giving “Al-Nashama” a 2-1 lead.
The Moroccan technical staff made several attacking substitutions in search of an equalizer, with pressure mounting on the Jordanian goal in the final minutes of regular time.
Hamdallah Turns the Tide
Three minutes before the end of regular time, Abdelrazak Hamdallah brought the match back to a draw after a successful follow-up inside the penalty area, forcing the two teams to play extra time.
In extra time, Morocco continued its attacking superiority. Hamdallah succeeded in scoring the winning goal by capitalizing on a ball inside the penalty area, settling the match and leading his national team to the victory podium.
Morocco
Morocco is a North African country with a rich history shaped by indigenous Amazigh (Berber) cultures, Arab influence from the 7th century, and successive dynasties like the Almoravids and Almohads. Its cultural sites, such as the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis and the historic medinas of Fez and Marrakech, reflect this diverse heritage. The country is also known for its unique blend of Arab, African, and European influences in its architecture, cuisine, and traditions.
Jordan
Jordan is a Middle Eastern country with a rich historical tapestry, most famously home to the ancient city of Petra, a Nabatean capital carved into rose-red sandstone cliffs over 2,000 years ago. The region has been a crossroads of civilizations, from the Roman Empire—evidenced by sites like Jerash—to the Islamic Caliphates and the Crusader period. It gained independence as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1946 following the dissolution of the British Mandate.
Lusail Stadium
Lusail Stadium is a football venue located in Lusail, Qatar, which served as the primary stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, hosting the final match. It was constructed specifically for the tournament and opened in 2022, designed with a capacity of approximately 88,966 spectators. Its design is inspired by traditional Arab craftsmanship, featuring a bowl-like form and a golden exterior meant to resemble vessels and artifacts from the region.
Qatar
Qatar is a sovereign country located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Historically, it was a British protectorate until gaining full independence in 1971, and its modern development has been heavily shaped by the discovery and export of vast oil and natural gas reserves. The nation is known for its blend of traditional Islamic culture and rapid modernization, with landmarks like the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha reflecting its deep historical roots.
Arab Cup
The Arab Cup is an international football tournament contested by men’s national teams from the Arab world. It was first held in 1963 and has been organized intermittently, with the most recent edition in 2021 serving as a test event for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
FIFA
FIFA, or the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the international governing body for association football, founded in Paris in 1904. It organizes major global tournaments, most notably the FIFA World Cup, which began in 1930 and has become the world’s most widely viewed sporting event.
Atlas Lions
The “Atlas Lions” is the nickname for the Moroccan national football team, derived from the Barbary lion that historically inhabited the Atlas Mountains. The team has a significant history in African football, having won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976 and becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022.
Al-Nashama
Al-Nashama is a prominent sports club based in Amman, Jordan, founded in 1944. It is one of the oldest and most popular clubs in the country, historically known for its successful football team and its role in fostering national athletic talent.
