The Puskas Prize was perhaps awarded two days too early. Presented this Tuesday to the Argentinian Santiago Montiel during the Fifa “The Best” trophies, the distinction rewarding the best goal of the year could have been awarded to Oussama Tannane, author of an absolutely unreal achievement to open the scoring this Thursday in the final of the Arab Cup.
Offensive leader of Morocco, who challenges Jordan for the title at the Lusail Stadium in Doha (Qatar), the former AS Saint-Étienne striker (2016-2020) put the Atlas Lions on track in an exceptional way from the fourth minute of play. Seeing Yazeed Abulaila, the Jordanian goalkeeper, out far from his goals, the 31-year-old left-hander attempted an improbable lob from the midfield.
Jordanian goalkeeper hit in the face
Placed in his half of the field, at the level of the central circle, the Umm-Salal player managed to combine power and precision to catch the last opposing wall off guard.
As if to add drama to this moment of magic, Abulaila, in a desperate attempt to prevent the ball from shaking his net, hit his right post as he fell. Treated for a few minutes, the 32-year-old goalkeeper finally returned to his place in the cage with his face adorned with a cockerel below his left eye.
In the race to win the second title in its history at the Arab Cup after the 2012 edition, Morocco took a big step towards the coronation in this final which started at 6 p.m.
