Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami, manager of the Jordanian national team, emphasized the difficulty and importance of the upcoming match between "Al-Nashama" (Jordanian national team) and their Saudi Arabian counterparts, scheduled for tomorrow as part of the semi-finals of the 2025 Arab Cup. Sellami's remarks came during the pre-match press conference, where he highlighted the significant challenges facing his team, most notably the absence of key first-team players.
Preparations amidst exceptional circumstances
Al-Salami began by addressing the players' physical condition and recent preparations, saying, "We gave some players a rest yesterday to recover after their strenuous efforts in the previous rounds, and today will be dedicated to final tactical preparations for the match." He added clearly and realistically, "We are fully aware that we will be facing a very strong team. The Saudi national team is a leading contender for the title and enters the match with a full squad, without any notable absences, which gives them a theoretical advantage on paper.".
The absence of the striking force of the Jordanian national team
Speaking about the challenges, Al-Salami revealed the biggest tactical dilemma facing Jordan in this tournament: the absence of their two key attacking players. He said, “We have significant and impactful absences, and for the first time, we will find ourselves having to play without both Yazan Al-Naimat and Musa Al-Taamari simultaneously. These players represent a major attacking force, but we will defend our chances with all our might and with the players who are available.”.
Regarding the controversy surrounding the worsening of Yazan Al-Naimat’s injury, Al-Salami defended the medical staff, saying: “The doctor is not responsible. When he examined Yazan, he realized there was an injury, but assessing its exact extent was not possible at that moment. The doctor requested that he be replaced immediately, but Yazan’s enthusiasm and insistence on playing, and the rapid pace of the match, prevented that at the time.”.
Mutual respect and tactical confrontation with Renard
The Jordanian coach also touched on his relationship with his French counterpart, Hervé Renard, the Saudi coach, stressing: “I have a good relationship with Renard built on mutual respect. He is a great coach and deserves appreciation for his achievements. Tomorrow’s match will be a tactical battle, as every coach has his own style and different way of managing big matches.”.
Al-Salami continued his technical analysis of the opponent: “My thoughts are entirely focused on tomorrow’s match. We will be playing against a complete and distinguished team in all lines, whether in defense, midfield, or attack. The Saudi national team has high-caliber players, and they have one of the best players in Asia, in addition to the return of Mohammed Kanno to his usual level, which increases the strength of their midfield.”.
The importance and impact of the Arab derby
This match holds special significance beyond being merely a semi-final; it is an Arab derby, a clash between the footballing traditions of the Levant and the Gulf. This encounter comes at a time when the Jordanian national team is experiencing a remarkable resurgence after reaching the final of the recent Asian Cup, raising public expectations. Meanwhile, the Saudi national team seeks to reaffirm its regional dominance and return to the podium, making this match highly anticipated across the Arab world.
A final message about arbitration
Jamal Al-Salami concluded his remarks with a clear and concise message to the organizing committee and the referees, stressing the need to ensure fairness in such sensitive matches: “All we need is a fair referee, and for each team to get its full due on the field. The most important thing now is to overcome the Saudi obstacle with honor and integrity, and then think about the final match.”.
