Meknes – The Jordan Football Association has appointed Moroccan manager Badou Zaki as the new head coach of the national team on Sunday, succeeding his compatriot Jamal Sellami.
The appointment proves Jordan’s continued reliance on Moroccan coaching expertise to guide the national team through its upcoming matches.
The football association clarified that Zaki has signed a one-year contract to lead the Nashama through their upcoming campaigns, guiding the team during the 2027 Asian Cup, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Zaki becomes the third consecutive Moroccan coach to lead Jordan’s national team, following Houcine Ammouta and Jamal Sellami. Both of his predecessors achieved remarkable results, successfully bringing Jordanian football back to the forefront of the Asian and Arab sports scene.
Ammouta previously made history by guiding Jordan to their first-ever Asian Cup final, a remarkable run featured by a 2-0 victory over South Korea in the semifinals before a loss to Qatar in the final. The Moroccan tactician stepped down from his position in June 2024 and was succeeded by Jamal Sellami.
Sellami similarly achieved success by guiding Jordan to their first-ever World Cup qualification, securing a spot in the 2026 tournament following a 3-0 win over Oman. However, the Jordan Football Association ended its partnership with the Moroccan manager after the team’s group stage exit at the World Cup, while hailing his vital role in achieving the historic qualification.
The Jordanian association is counting on Zaki’s international experience, given his two previous stints managing the Moroccan national team, whom he led to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Zaki’s appointment underscores the elite reputation Moroccan managers now hold within Jordanian football. Following the landmark successes of Ammouta and Sellami, tactical expertise from Morocco has clearly evolved into a foundational pillar in Jordan’s long-term sporting project.
