In a royal gesture reflecting deep appreciation for the efforts made to raise the profile of Jordanian sports, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan issued a royal decree granting Jordanian citizenship to Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami, the technical director of the Jordanian national team (Al-Nashama). This decision came after the final match of the 2025 Arab Cup, held at the Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar, which ended with a victory for the Moroccan national team.
Royal recognition for heroic performance
The royal decree came in recognition of the high level of performance displayed by the Jordanian national team under coach Al-Salami, and the fighting spirit shown by the players throughout the tournament, culminating in the final match. Despite the loss in the final to the Moroccan national team by a score of three goals to two, the Jordanian leadership considered the team's reaching this stage an achievement worthy of recognition, and a confirmation of the continued progress Jordanian football has been experiencing in recent years.
Tears of peace and the march of the brave men
Jamal Sellami broke down in tears after the final whistle, deeply affected by the loss of the title in the final moments. This scene reflects the immense dedication and passion the Moroccan coach has for his project with the Jordanian national team. This tribute serves to wipe away his tears of sorrow and reaffirms that the true measure of success for the Jordanian leadership and public is dedication to work and tangible improvement in performance, not merely immediate numerical results.
Historical context: The Moroccan school and Jordanian football
This achievement cannot be separated from the broader context of the recent development of Jordanian football, where the Moroccan coaching school has proven remarkably successful with the national team. Following the historic achievement of former coach Hussein Ammouta in leading Jordan to the Asian Cup final, Jamal Sellami took over to continue the progress and maintain the upward trajectory of the team's performance. Granting citizenship to a foreign coach is an exceptional event that reflects Jordan's desire to maintain technical stability and provide all means of support for the national team, especially given the high expectations for competing in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The importance of the event and its future impact
This decision carries significant implications both locally and regionally. Locally, it strengthens the confidence of Jordanian sports fans in the coaching staff and players, and provides the team with a tremendous morale boost for upcoming competitions. Regionally, this event underscores the deep fraternal ties between Jordan and Morocco, as the two teams competed with great sportsmanship. Morocco won the title for the second time in its history, following its victory in 2012, while Jordan earned everyone's respect with its valiant performance and its honoring of its coach.
