The team began its training the morning before last with the participation of 24 players, before the professional players and those who arrived late joined, completing the 28-player list yesterday. Mousa Al-Tamari, Ali Al-Azayzeh, Tamer Bani Odeh, and goalkeeper Alec Samir joined, while Mohammad Abu Al-Nadi was expected to join the gathering.
With the players arriving one after another, Zaki now has the opportunity to work with the full group, after the first session saw the participation of 24 players from the list chosen by the technical staff, which includes a mix of experienced elements and new names, in addition to a number of players returning to the team's ranks.
Goalkeeper Alec Samir is receiving special attention, as he is appearing for the first time with the senior national team after having a professional experience in the United States with Minnesota United. Meanwhile, the return of a number of names to the list represents an opportunity for the technical staff to re-evaluate the available options, especially since Zaki confirmed since announcing the list that the doors of the national team will remain open to players who prove their ability to provide an addition.
The list includes: Yazid Abu Layla, Abdullah Al-Fakhouri, Alec Samir, Ahmed Jaidi, Yazan Al-Arab, Abdullah Nasib, Mohammad Abu Al-Nadi, Saad Al-Rousan, Hadi Al-Hourani, Muhannad Abu Taha, Ihsan Haddad, Ahmed Assaf, Anas Badawi, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Ibrahim Saadeh, Yousef Qashi, Amer Jamous, Mahmoud Shawkat, Yousef Abu Jalboush, Mousa Al-Tamari, Mahmoud Mardi, Tamer Bani Odeh, Ahmed Ersan, Ali Al-Azayzeh, Ouda Al-Fakhouri, Mohammad Abu Zrayq, and Ali Olwan.
The list reveals a clear trend towards expanding the circle of options, given the presence of nine names that were not present in the Al-Nashama list during the last participation in the World Cup, in addition to the return of players who were absent from the previous stage, against the absence of names that were accustomed to being present in past years. These are choices that give the new coach more space for evaluation before settling on the shape of the team during the coming period.
Zaki begins work
The current gathering comes as the first training appearance for Zaki with Al-Nashama, after he took over the task from his compatriot Jamal Sellami, who led the team to historic qualification for the World Cup, before his mission ended after the global participation.
The Moroccan coach carries a different challenge in his new mission, as he begins work with a team that reached the 2023 Asian Cup final, finished as runners-up in the Arab Cup, and participated for the first time in the World Cup, before eyes now turn to the upcoming Asian entitlement.
Zaki confirmed when announcing the list that the goal of the technical staff at this stage is to get to know the players better and apply the ideas and principles upon which he wants to build the team, noting that diligence and performance on the pitch will be among the most prominent criteria for selection in the future.
Hence, the next two matches will not just be friendly encounters, but a first opportunity for the new coach to test his ideas, watch the players up close, and learn about their ability to respond to the change in style and technical duties.
Al-Tamari in the spotlight
The completion of the team's ranks gives Zaki the opportunity to work with the most prominent elements of Al-Nashama, led by Mousa Al-Tamari, who returned to the gathering after the historic participation in the World Cup, in addition to Olwan, Mardi, Abu Zrayq, and other elements that form an important part of the attacking options.
On the other hand, the file of Yazan Al-Naimat remains present in the scene, despite his absence from the current list, in light of the continued monitoring of his health condition and his readiness to return to the stadiums.
Zaki explained that Al-Naimat will be within the team's calculations in the Asian Cup if his readiness is complete, confirming that the technical staff is following the developments of his condition in coordination with the player and the medical staff.
The return of Al-Naimat, once his readiness is complete, remains one of the files awaited by the technical staff and the fans, especially since the next stage requires the availability of the greatest possible number of options before the Asian entitlement.
First stop.. Syria
Al-Nashama is preparing to play its first friendly match against Syria at 8:00 PM next Sunday, at King Abdullah II Stadium, before meeting the Venezuela national team at the same time on Tuesday, October 6, at the same stadium.
The match against Syria gains additional importance as it is the first match for Zaki at the head of the technical staff, while the match against Venezuela provides another test against a different team in terms of style and football school, allowing the technical staff to expand the scope of evaluation.
It is expected that Zaki will invest in the two matches to give the opportunity to the largest possible number of players, especially the new names, with the aim of forming a clearer picture of the group that he will rely on during the coming months.
The Asian date
Al-Nashama's calculations are moving from now towards the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5.
The draw placed Al-Nashama, the runner-up of the last edition, in Group B alongside Uzbekistan, Bahrain, and North Korea, where it begins its journey by facing Uzbekistan on January 8 in Jeddah, then Bahrain on the 13th, before concluding the group stage by facing North Korea on January 17 in Riyadh.
Consequently, the current stage represents the actual beginning of the process of building the team in the way Zaki wants, away from the calculations of the previous participation, and with names and options that may witness more change during the coming gatherings.
Zaki does not have much time, but he has a group that has made a remarkable presence in recent years, and has proven its ability to compete continentally, Arab-wide, and globally. What is required now is to balance between maintaining the elements of strength that made the success of Al-Nashama, and opening the door to new blood that can give the team additional options.
With the ranks complete and collective work beginning, the Jordanian sports street expects the coming days to reveal the features of Al-Nashama with Zaki, whether in terms of the lineup, the style of play, or the names that will prove their presence in the new phase.
Between the first training session and the first whistle against Syria, the countdown begins for a new phase, titled preparation for the Asian Cup, and its goal is to maintain the position that Al-Nashama has reached after years of achievements, while searching for a new step in the upcoming continental entitlement.
