Amman — Al-Faisaly will rely on home advantage, crowd support and high morale after moving to the top of the Jordanian Pro League as they host Oman’s Al-Nahda at 9:15 p.m. today at Amman International Stadium.
اضافة اعلان
The match is part of the second round of Group C in the AFC Champions League Two. Al-Faisaly, known as the “Blue,” will be seeking their first win in the competition, an early return to winning ways and a boost to their chances of securing one of the group’s two qualification spots for the next round.
The match carries added importance for Al-Faisaly, who know that dropping points at home could complicate their campaign in a group where every point matters, particularly given the competing teams’ ambitions and their desire to secure a strong position before the decisive first-round fixtures.
Al-Faisaly opened their campaign with an entertaining 4-3 defeat to Qatar’s Al-Rayyan. The match featured several swings in momentum and demonstrated the team’s ability to threaten their opponents’ goal, but also exposed defensive weaknesses that need to be addressed. Meanwhile, Oman’s Al-Nahda drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun, with both teams earning a point in the opening round.
Al-Taawoun will also face Al-Rayyan today ahead of the Al-Faisaly–Al-Nahda match. The result of that encounter will directly affect the group standings and the competition for qualification.
Al-Faisaly hope the home crowd will play a decisive role tonight by providing moral support and an extra boost for the players to deliver a performance that matches the ambitions of the club and its supporters in continental competition. The team also hopes to build on the positive momentum generated by its rise to the top of the Pro League.
Both teams completed their preparations yesterday evening with final training sessions at Amman International Stadium. Their coaching staffs put the finishing touches on their game plans, settled on the main elements of their starting line-ups and reviewed the tactical details needed to carry out their instructions.
Al-Faisaly head coach Tarek Mostafa of Egypt is seeking a balanced line-up that combines defensive solidity with attacking effectiveness while maintaining stability and cohesion. The team has players capable of making a difference across the pitch, whether through quick movements on the wings, building attacks through the middle or exploiting set pieces.
Al-Faisaly are expected to start with goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Fakhouri, with Ihsan Haddad and Hossam Abu Al-Dhahab in central defence, Mohammad Haddad on the left and Anas Badawi on the right. Omani player Salah Al-Yahyai, Ivorian Saido Simporé and Nour Al-Rawabdeh are expected to form the midfield trio, while Ahmad Al-Ersan, Anas Al-Awadat and Rizq Bani Hani will lead the attacking moves, with the possibility of switching positions and moving between the wings and central areas depending on the course of the match.
Al-Faisaly will rely heavily on their players’ experience and ability to handle pressure, as well as the individual skills of several key players, particularly Al-Ersan and Al-Awadat, whose pace, dribbling and chance creation make them dangerous attacking threats.
Al-Faisaly are expected to apply measured attacking pressure from the outset, aiming to reach the goal guarded by Fayez Al-Rushaidi early and establish their presence in the final third. An early goal would lift the team’s morale and put the visitors under pressure from the opening minutes.
However, the task will not be easy against Al-Nahda, who also have players capable of exploiting space and transitioning quickly from defence to attack. Al-Faisaly will therefore need to balance their attacking advances with defensive discipline and avoid committing too many players forward, which could leave them vulnerable to counterattacks against Al-Fakhouri’s goal.
Al-Nahda arrive in Amman seeking a positive result after opening their campaign with a draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun. That result will encourage them to continue collecting points and attempt to take advantage of the pressure on Al-Faisaly, who are expected to win in front of their home supporters.
Al-Nahda head coach Scott Calderwood of England is expected to field a balanced line-up in both defence and attack, featuring goalkeeper Fayez Al-Rushaidi, Mohammad Faraj, Mohammad Al-Ghafri, Jameel Al-Yahmadi, Amjad Al-Harthi, Valon Ahmedi, Jalon Anderson, Harib Al-Saadi, Petros Boumal, Ghanem Al-Habsi and Ahmad Al-Kaabi. The final line-up will depend on the coach’s decisions before kick-off.
Al-Nahda will seek to limit the influence of Al-Faisaly’s key playmakers and press the player in possession in specific areas, while relying on quick transitions to exploit spaces behind the wide players. They will also look to make the most of set pieces as a potential route to goal.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Yahya Qutaishat
