Abderrazak Hamdallah came off the bench to score twice as Morocco fought back to beat Jordan 3-2 and lift the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup trophy.
Despite the poor weather since morning – which forced the third-place play-off between Saudi Arabia and the UAE to be abandoned at half-time – a crowd of more than 84,000 turned out at Lusail Stadium.
They were fortunate to witness a classic.
Morocco made a dream start when Oussama Tannane produced a stunning opener inside four minutes, sending a long-range effort from his own half over Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Layla, who suffered a facial injury as he collided with the post in a desperate attempt to stop the ball crossing the line.
Morocco could have doubled their advantage before the break, with Abu Layla saving a powerful shot from Karim El Berkaoui, before Issam Smeeri made a goal-line clearance to deny Tannane his second of the game.
The Comeback
The second half was a different story, as Jordan put up a superb fight. Just three minutes after the restart, Ali Olwan headed in Mohannad Abu Taha’s cross to level the score. Then, just less than 20 minutes later, Jordan were awarded a penalty. A VAR review ruled that Mahmoud Al Mardi’s shot struck Achraf El Mahdioui’s hand. Olwan made no mistake from the spot to score his sixth goal of the tournament and tighten his grip on the tournament’s top-scorer award.
The Turning Point
In the 72nd minute, Morocco coach Tarik Sektioui made the substitution that proved the turning point, by bringing on Hamdallah for Tannane.
The 35-year-old striker found the net in the strangest of ways just three minutes before the final whistle to rescue his team. Abu Layla blocked Mohamed Hrimat’s header following a corner, but the ball hit Hamdallah’s chest and came back off the post, then his left-footed effort struck the post again from point-blank range, before he finally turned it in with his right foot. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but VAR overturned the decision. The call stunned the Jordanian fans, who appeared to be in greater numbers, as they were just minutes away from witnessing their national team’s greatest ever triumph.
To rub salt in the wound, Jordan wasted the chance to finish the game in the dying seconds. Olwan surged through from midfield, only for Morocco goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid dashed off his line to deny him superbly, sending the final into extra time.
There was more drama at the start of extra time. Abu Taha sent a superb left-footed effort into the top corner, but his celebration was cut short as the goal was disallowed for a handball in the build-up. Bentayg won a free-kick on the edge of the box and swung in the cross himself. Hamdallah headed it down to Marwane Saadane, whose bicycle kick kept the move alive, before the striker found space again to steer home the winner from close range.
Match Highlights
2025 FIFA Arab Cup
Final
Date: 18/12/2025
Venue: Lusail Stadium
Attendance: 84,517
Morocco (3)
Jordan (2)
1-0 Oussama Tanane 4’
1-1 Ali Olwan 48’
1-2 Ali Olwan (P) 68’
2-2 Abderrazak Hamdallah 88’
3-2 Abderrazak Hamdallah 100’
Morocco
El Mehdi Benabid
Mohamed Boulacsout
Marwane Saâdane
Soufiane Bouftini
Sabir Bougrine 72′
Hamza El Moussaoui
Mahmoud Bentayg 80′
Mohamed Rabie Hrimat
Anas Bach
Mounir Chouiar 72′
Oussama Tannane
Abderrazak Hamdallah 72′
Amine Zouhzouh
Karim El Berkaoui
Aschraf El Mahdioui 17′
Waleed Azaro
Marouane Louadni 106′
Jordan
Yazeed Abu Laila
Saed Al Rosan
Husam Abu Al Dahab
Ali Hajabi 104′
Abdallah Nasib
Amer Jamous
Rajaei Ayed 82′
Nizar Al Rashdan
Issam Smeeri
Adham Al Quraishi 46′
Mohannad Abu Taha
Mohammad Abu Zraiq
Odeh Al Fakhouri 46′
Ahmad Ersan 112′
Mahmoud Al Mardi
Mohammad Abu Hasheesh 90′
Referee
Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
Yellow Cards
Al Amine Zouhzoh (MOR)
Mohammed Abu Dahab (JOR)
Rajaei Ayed (JOR)