Three years ago to the day, the formidable Lusail Stadium in Doha was the scene of the infinite sadness of Kylian Mbappé and the France team in the World Cup final against Argentina. This Thursday, this architectural jewel hosted, on this national holiday of Qatar, a new stunning match, with a crazy and breathtaking scenario which benefited Morocco against Jordan in the final of the Arab Cup (2-3).
In front of 84,517 people, Tarik Sektioui’s men won this competition for the second time in their history after delivering a remarkable performance which bears the seal of self-sacrifice and resilience. Three days before the start of “its” CAN organized at home, Morocco continues to establish its domination.
Brilliant inspiration from Tannane
Failing to remain as much in the legend as the 2022 World Cup final, this meeting will have nicely promoted the Arab Cup and will have offered images which will certainly tour the planet thanks, first of all, to the exceptional goal scored by Oussama Tannane (4th). A brilliant inspiration, precise from almost 55 m from the former Saint-Étienne player coming to lob the unfortunate Jordanian goalkeeper Abulaila who then crashed against one of his posts.
Under heavy rain which forced many of the spectators to wear makeshift ponchos to protect themselves from the heavy downpours that fell on Doha, the Jordanian public was showered a second time. The rest of the stadium was stunned and held their heads in their hands in amazement. More technically precise and more dominant, the Atlas Lions continued to put their paw on this meeting and believed they were taking off before half-time. But neither El Barkaoui (12th) nor Tannane (41st) allowed Morocco to make the break.
A lack of efficiency and realism which Jordan took advantage of upon returning from the locker room. More incisive, Jamal Sellami’s men first equalized thanks to a headed goal from the essential Ali Owan (48th). The match was restarted by the striker’s 5th goal of the competition and the chants of the Jordanian supporters increased in intensity with each incursion of their protégés, while intense whistles accompanied those of Morocco.
Abderrazzak Hamed Allah, the unexpected hero
The atmosphere then became furious in the stands where the Emir of Qatar had sat, after having missed the Intercontinental Cup won by PSG against Flamengo the day before, and this final became irrational, unbreathable. Reinvigorated, the Nashama did honor to their wonderful fans by being much more dangerous. These efforts ended up being rewarded with a penalty converted in the 65th minute by the competition’s top scorer Ali Owan, again. Morocco still believed in it and finally found the resources to equalize and snatch an extension thanks to a goal from incoming Abderrazzak Hamed Allah, awarded after the intervention of the VAR (88th).
The two teams continued to engage in a formidable mano a mano in added time, Owan even having the match point (90th + 7), but in a repeat of Randal Kolo Muani’s failure in front of Emiliano Martinez, his shot was miraculously deflected by the goalkeeper. Jordan pushed, saw a goal disallowed for a very light hand from Abutaha in the 7th second of overtime, and its hopes ended up definitely disappearing.
The extension turned to the advantage of Tarik Sektioui’s men thanks to his superbub Hamed Allah. The Al-Shabab striker stole the show from Owan and took on the role of unexpected hero by scoring a double full of opportunism (100th) which put the Moroccan fans in a trance. One month to the day before the CAN final, Morocco experienced a first moment of joy and hopes to see it again very soon.
