FIFA Arab Cup: Morocco come back to win title in extra time

Abderrazak Hamdallah scored two crucial goals as Morocco came back to win the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup with a 3-2 victory over Jordan after extra time in Thursday’s dramatic final.

Jordan staged a remarkable second half comeback after falling behind inside five minutes. However, substitute Hamdallah equalized in the final minutes to send the final into extra time before scoring the match winner in the 100th minute.

Early on, it appeared that the North Africans would ease to victory. In the 4th minute, Oussama Tannane produced the goal of the tournament when his bold effort from the middle of the pitch sailed over Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila to put the Atlas Lions ahead.

After surviving a couple more opportunities from the leaders, Moroccan coach Jamal Sellami’s Jordan side came out of the halftime break a completely different team. It took less than three minutes for star forward Ali Olwan to head in the equalizer before a handball led to a 68th minute penalty kick by Olwan to stun the Moroccan team.

However, there was one more twist in the final stretch. Hamdallah arrived to save the day for the Atlas Lions when he finished from close range after Abulaila saved from a header and Morocco lived to fight on. Both teams had opportunities in the final minutes of regulation time but the match remained tied at 2-2, requiring extra time to determine a champion.

And after a potential goal for Jordan was ruled out for a handball inside a minute, Hamdallah rose to the occasion again. A free kick from the left wing was headed back across the six-yard box by the Saudi-based striker. Marwane Saadane’s attempted overhead kick fell perfectly into the path of Hamdallah who was left with a simple finish from three yards out.

Devastated from conceding a late equalizer and the subsequent extra time goal, Jordan were unable to mount one final effort. Morocco are champions of the Arab Cup for the second time in their fifth appearance, having previously won the 2012 edition.