AMMAN — The national football team initiated its technical and physical training yesterday in preparation for two friendly matches against Syria and Venezuela, scheduled for the 27th of this month and the 6th of next month at King Abdullah II Stadium in Quweismah.
اضافة اعلان
The team entered a closed training camp yesterday at a hotel in Amman under the leadership of head coach Badou Zaki. The matches serve as preparation for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5.
The first training session, held at the Nashama Preparation Center, saw the participation of 24 domestic and overseas-based players. The squad is set to be fully finalized today following the arrival of Musa Al-Taamari, Ali Al-Azaizeh, Tamer Bani Oudeh, and goalkeeper Alec Samir (Minnesota United), who joins the senior national team setup for the first time following his professional stint in the United States. Meanwhile, Mohammad Abu Al-Nadi is expected to arrive today, providing the technical staff an opportunity to observe him closely during the camp.
The 28-Player Roster
The national team roster includes 28 players:
Yazeed Abulaila, Abdallah Al-Fakhouri, Alec Samir, Ahmad Juaidi, Abdallah Nasib "Diyara," Mohammad Abu Al-Nadi, Hadi Al-Hourani, Yazan Al-Arab, Saad Al-Rousan, Ehsan Haddad, Mohannad Abu Taha, Ahmad Assaf, Anas Badawi, Mahmoud Shawkat, Youssef Qashi, Amer Jamous, Ibrahim Sadeh, Youssef Abu Jalboush " Sisa," Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Mohammad Abu Zrayq "Sharara," Ali Al-Azaizeh, Tamer Bani Oudeh, Ahmad Ersan, Oudeh Fakhouri, Musa Al-Taamari, Mahmoud Mardi, and Ali Olwan.
The current list features 9 new names who were not present in the recent World Cup squad, alongside the return of several players who were absent in the previous phase. Meanwhile, some long-standing regular names were excluded, reflecting the technical staff's intent to broaden choices and grant all players a chance to prove their continuity with the team.
Moroccan head coach Badou Zaki welcomed the players, expressing his delight at managing the Nashama—a team that has achieved major milestones in recent years—and highlighting the importance of maximizing the benefits of this first training camp.
Zaki emphasized that all players must perform at their peak and make full use of this opportunity to earn their spot, reaffirming that the national team's doors remain open to everyone based strictly on performance and technical merit, without favoritism.
Asian Cup Grouping and Schedule
The draw for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup placed Jordan in Group B alongside Uzbekistan, Bahrain, and North Korea—a group expected to witness fierce competition as the Nashama look to maintain their strong continental performance.
The national team will open its tournament campaign against Uzbekistan on January 8 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. They will then face Bahrain on January 13 at Al-Shabab Stadium, before concluding the group stage against North Korea on January 18 at the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University Stadium.
Syria's Preparations
On the other hand, the Syrian national team, which arrived in Amman two days ago, continues its intensive training under Spanish head coach José Lana to prepare for the upcoming clash against the Nashama.
Syria's roster features local players: goalkeeper Ahmad Madania, Abdul Razzaq Mohammad (Al-Karamah), goalkeeper Shaher Al-Shakir, Abdullah Al-Shami, Zakaria Hanan (Ahli Aleppo), Omar Al-Somah, and Amr Midani (Al-Wahda). It also includes overseas players: Mohammad Al-Hallaq, Mahmoud Al-Aswad, Mahmoud Al-Mawas, Ala'a Al-Dali, Ahmad Al-Dali, and Khaled Kurdaghli.
Additionally, the Syrian squad includes diaspora players: Elias Hadaya, Aiham Ousou, Ahmad Faqa, Mohammad Osman, Elmar Abraham, Noah Shamoun, John Mustafa, and Mustafa Abdul Latif, alongside newcomers Wessam Dukhan and Johannes Danho.
Resource: Al-Ghad. Reporting: By: Yahya Qteishat
