Tannane goal from own half sets Morocco on way to FIFA Arab Cup 2025 title

Morocco won the Qatar-hosted tournament’s second FIFA Arab Cup title with a 3-2 victory over Jordan after extra time thanks to Oussama Tannane’s wonder goal from inside his own half.

When Qatar-based footballer Tannane fired a shot well over the halfway line, which was estimated to be 59 meters, to catch out goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila, the crowd at Lusail Stadium in Doha on Thursday was quickly on their feet.

In an effort to stop the shot, the Jordan keeper scurried back to his line in a protracted four-minute stoppage before being cleared to continue and the game resumed.

Jordan’s return to take the lead only served as the start of a contentious final, which saw the match be adjourned to extra time, with Jordanian hearts broken just seconds away from their first regular-time FIFA Arab Cup title.

Ali Oliwan pulled away from his marker to head home from close range after a well-worked corner, and Jordan, who had already lost to the 2025 AFC Asian Cup, equaled three minutes into the second period.

After Mahmoud Almardi’s shot struck Achraf El Mahdioui’s raised hand inside the box, Oliwan converted from the penalty spot for his second in the 68th minute.

However, the drama was not over until second-half substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah scored in the opening goal after a corner-scoring scramble.

However, Oliwan had a shot at glory with the final kick of normal time when, with Jordan without a shot that would have also come off his hat-trick, he was unable to beat the goalkeeper.

With Mohannad Abutaha volleying a stunning left-footed effort into the top right corner from the left edge of the box, many fans may not have been able to enjoy Tannane’s opener. Similar to Tannane’s, his strike was deserving of winning any final, but VAR ruled out the goal due to the Jordanian’s controlled handball before the effort was launched.

After Marwane Saadane’s bicycle kick from a set piece fell kindly into his path from close range, Hamdallah tapped in the winning goal.

In the Saudi Arabian final, Morocco defeated Libya in the previous year’s Arab Cup. Algeria defeated Tunisia in the final four years of its existence, the Atlas Lions.

Morocco had a dominant opening period, and Tannane, who plays for Umm Salal in the Qatar league, had a fantastic opportunity to double the lead on the stroke of half-time when Abulaila spilled a cross into his path. However, the forward had to make a clean connection with his left-footed follow-up, and Issam Smeir slid off the line.

The Jordanian stopper was forced to keep his foot on the ball all the way through the opening period, and Karim El Berkaoui made his best save in the 17th minute when he drove across Tannane’s face from the edge of the box with a one-two equal to it, but Abulaila was on his right to push the effort wide.

Morocco will now concentrate on hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where a number of their European-based stars who had to prioritize club over country during the Arab Cup had the task of making it the first African nation to do so.

More than a million tickets were sold at the 2025 edition of the FIFA Arab Cup, which was more than double the number of tickets sold at the previous competition four years ago.