Heavy rainfall in Doha set the scene for a gripping conclusion to the 2025 Arab Cup, as Morocco and Jordan met at Lusail Stadium with the trophy at stake. The wet conditions did little to slow the tempo during the opening minutes.
Heavy rainfall in Doha set the scene for a gripping conclusion to the 2025 Arab Cup, as Morocco and Jordan met at Lusail Stadium with the trophy at stake. The wet conditions did little to slow the tempo during the opening minutes.
The Atlas Lions struck almost immediately. In five minutes, Oussama Tannane noticed the Jordan goalkeeper off his line and attempted an audacious effort from just beyond the halfway line, catching everyone by surprise as the ball rolled into the net.
Yazeed Abulaila collided with the post while desperately trying to recover, but Jordan quickly regrouped. Despite the shock start, the Nashama refused to retreat and steadied themselves as the half progressed.
Morocco, however, began asserting territorial dominance. One promising attack nearly produced a second goal, only for Issam Smeeri to intervene with a crucial clearance to keep Jordan within touching distance.
The balance of the contest shifted dramatically after the interval. Within three minutes of the restart, Jordan drew level when Ali Olwan rose to meet a delivery from Mohannad Abu Taha, directing a header beyond El Mehdi Benabid in the 48th minute.
Confidence surged through the Jordan side, and sustained pressure followed. At 65 minutes, a VAR review was triggered after Achraf El-Mahdioui was judged to have handled the ball inside the box.
The resulting penalty sparked celebrations among Jordan supporters, and Olwan calmly converted to give his team a 2-1 advantage while also extending his tournament goal tally.
Morocco responded with wave after wave of attacks against a disciplined defensive shape. Abdelrazzak Hamedallah appeared to have restored parity late on after a chaotic scramble, but the assistant referee initially ruled the effort out.
A prolonged video review ensued, freezing the stadium in anticipation. When the decision was overturned in the 87th minute, the equalizer stood, and the final was pushed toward extra time.
Jordan nearly reclaimed the lead before regulation time expired, with Olwan missing two opportunities to complete a hat trick as the match moved beyond 90 minutes.
The additional period began with immediate controversy. Just seconds into extra time, Mohannad Abu Taha unleashed a powerful strike that found the net, but celebrations were cut short after the goal was disallowed for a handball.
Morocco seized the initiative once more. From a set-piece situation in the 100th minute, Marwan Saadane produced an acrobatic overhead kick that created space, allowing Hamedallah to apply the finishing touch and make it 3-2.
Jordan pushed forward again, refusing to surrender. Hussam Abu Dahab came close to forcing another equalizer, his attempt narrowly missing the target as tension peaked.
As exhaustion took hold, Morocco managed the closing stages with composure. The final whistle confirmed a dramatic triumph, earning the Atlas Lions their first Arab Cup crown since 2012, while Jordan’s remarkable journey ended in visible disappointment.
Earlier in the day, the third-place encounter between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was called off because of severe weather, with FIFA expected to decide the final outcome later.
