
Rasheed targets playoff spot after Jordan defeat
MUSCAT, June 6
The national football team head coach, Rasheed Jaber, voiced confidence that the team can return back in the concluding match at the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 on coming Tuesday against Palestine in Amman city. ' I am confident that the team can bounce back strongly and vie for a playoff spot. I hope all the players put the defeat behind and begin concentrating on the next assignment which is securing a place in the playoffs as an additional two tickets to next year's Fifa World Cup Finals will be at stake,' he added.
Jordan imprinted their name in the history as they secured their maiden World Cup qualification in group B following their 3-0 win over Oman on Thursday night to join South Korea to the Fifa World Cup after their convincing 2-0 win over Iraq. Jordan's striker Ali Olwan was the man of the match as he starred with a hat-trick and delivered his team crucial three points to reach 16 points and book their spot at next year's global showpiece ahead of their match against Iraq on Tuesday as the latter suffered a 2-0 loss against South Korea.
Oman, which has 10 ten points, will meet Palestine in Amman on Tuesday. Both teams will fight with Iraq on the remaining two playoff spots after Palestine edged Kuwait 2-0 on Thursday night to keep their hopes alive.
"I extend my apologies to our fans, especially those who attended the match. We hoped to bring them joy, but the penalty late in the first half shifted the momentum. Jordan capitalised well and managed the second half with control and determination,' Jaber said
'We still have a final match in the qualifiers and we will fight for victory. It is important to rebuild our confidence and approach the game with full focus. The door to qualification via the playoffs is still open,' he concluded.
On the other side, the head coach of Jordan Jamal Sellami celebrated his team's historic achievement, guiding Jordan to their first-ever Fifa World Cup qualification. Jordan's attendance in the global showpiece event was confirmed after South Korea's victory over Iraq by 2-0 as they secured top two slots in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26.
'We believed in the win, but to finish 3-0 exceeded our expectations. This result reflects the spirit, ambition, and commitment of our players,' Coach Sellami said.
'Qualifying for the World Cup is a dream come true for Jordanian football, and I am proud to be part of this journey. The first goal gave us the upper hand, forcing Oman to push forward, and we used that to our advantage.' Moroccan Sellami ended
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