Zaki's choices can be read from a clear angle, which is to benefit from the legacy left by the national team in the World Cup, while starting to build a broader base for the next stage.
It is noteworthy that the Moroccan school to which Zaki belongs was present in the method of selection; the coach did not treat the list as an opportunity to completely reshape the team, but rather started from the elements that the sports public knows and trusts, before adding to them names he wants to watch closely.
Zaki himself confirmed that the upcoming international break is very important to get to know the players closely, noting that the technical staff tried to choose the elements capable of providing an addition, while confirming that the door to the national team will remain open to everyone.
World Cup pillars are present
Zaki maintained a wide group of players who represented Al-Nashama in the World Cup, led by Mousa Al-Tamari, Ali Olwan, Yazan Al-Arab, Abdullah Nasib, Yazeed Abu Laila, Abdullah Al-Fakhouri, Mohammad Abu Al-Nadi, Saad Al-Rousan, Ehsan Haddad, Mohannad Abu Taha, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Mahmoud Mardi, Mohammad Abu Zureiq, Ali Azayzeh, Ouda Al-Fakhouri, and others.
The presence of these names confirms that Zaki does not want to demolish what has been built, especially since the team reached the World Cup for the first time in its history, before exiting from the group stage after matches against Austria, Algeria, and Argentina.
Up front, Al-Tamari remains one of the team's most prominent attacking keys, with his speed and ability to play in spaces and transition from defense to attack, while Ali Olwan represents one of the main options in the final third, whether as a striker or by moving behind the front line.
As for the defense, Al-Arab and Nasib remain among the most prominent experienced elements, alongside Abu Al-Nadi and Al-Rousan, while the return and continuity of Haddad give the technical staff an option that combines experience and the ability to occupy more than one role in the back line.
In the midfield, the names of Al-Rawabdeh, Al-Rashdan, Saadeh, and Jamous seem to be elements that can form the basis of Zaki's tactical work, at a time when reliance continues on Mardi, Abu Zureiq, and Al-Azayzeh in attacking roles.
Zaki's eye on goalkeeping
One of the most prominent headlines of the new list is the presence of goalkeeper Alec Samir, who plays professionally in the United States with Minnesota United.
Samir, born in the United States in 1999, holds American citizenship and plays as a goalkeeper, and currently represents Minnesota United in the American league, with a contract extending until the end of 2026.
His call-up carries more than one meaning, especially since Zaki did not present the player as the new first-choice goalkeeper, but rather spoke about him possessing great potential, and that the gathering represents an opportunity to monitor him closely and learn about his level and capabilities, as part of the technical staff's effort for him to be an addition to Al-Nashama.
Consequently, Samir's presence on the list does not necessarily mean displacing Yazeed Abu Laila or Abdullah Al-Fakhouri, but rather opening a new competition in the goalkeeping position, a competition the team needs in the coming stage.
Al-Ersan.. A well-deserved return
The return of Ahmed Al-Ersan seems to be one of the choices that resonated most with the sports public, especially since the player is having a strong start with Al-Faisaly, after the club renewed his contract for three seasons.
Al-Ersan is an attacking player capable of playing in more than one position behind the striker, and possesses a clear attacking personality, in addition to his ability to score and create danger from the depth and the flanks.
It is noteworthy that Al-Ersan was the top scorer of the Jordanian league last season, while he was away from the World Cup list, before Zaki gave him a new opportunity to prove himself, and Al-Faisaly renewed his contract for three seasons, which reflects his status within the team.
"Sisa" enters the calculations
Zaki also called up Yousef Abu Jalboush "Sisa", the player whom the sports public knows well through his local experience, and who recently moved to ES Sétif of Algeria.
Abu Jalboush is an attacking midfielder characterized by movement and the ability to create play, and can occupy more than one position in the attacking third, which gives Zaki a different option in playmaking and transitioning between the lines.
His move to ES Sétif last August adds a new professional station to his experience, after years of presence in the Jordanian league.
Tamer Bani Odeh.. A striker from the professional school
The name that could constitute an important attacking addition is Tamer Bani Odeh, the Jordanian striker playing professionally with West Bromwich Albion in England.
Bani Odeh, 22, plays as a center-forward, and moved to West Bromwich in 2025 after an experience with Randers of Denmark, and is tied to the English club until 2028.
His presence on Zaki's list gives the team a different option in the pure striker position, especially with the coach's desire to learn about his ability to translate his professional experience into international performance.
Zaki, according to his declared vision, does not grant the call-up as a guarantee of participation, but as an opportunity for the player to prove that he is capable of providing an addition.
Options for the future
Among the names that also deserve to be followed is Yousef Qashi, the young midfielder at Al-Hussein, who previously had experiences in Germany within the RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich academies, before returning to Jordanian football.
Qashi, born in 2005, represents an option that carries a future dimension for the national team, especially since Zaki needs to build a generation to support the current elements in the coming years.
As for Mahmoud Shawkat, who came from Al-Wehdat to Al-Hussein, he represents a middle option that combines local experience and the ability to perform multiple roles in the midfield.
Also standing out is Anas Badawi, the right-back for Al-Faisaly, whose club renewed his contract for three seasons, to continue his presence within the national team's calculations.
What about Al-Awadat?
In the context of the names that were proposed in the sports street, the name of Anas Al-Awadat stands out, who did not appear in Zaki's current list.
Al-Awadat, the Jordanian winger, moved to Al-Faisaly last July coming from Al-Wehdat, after professional experiences with Al-Nasr and Kazma of Kuwait and Al-Najma of Bahrain, and he is one of the players who possess the ability to play on the flank, create spaces, and enter the penalty area.
His absence from the 28-man list does not necessarily mean closing the door on him, especially since Zaki clearly announced that the door to the national team is open to everyone, and that what is required of the players is to continue working and striving.
First reading.. No break with the past
In conclusion, Zaki's first list was quiet in its headlines and clear in its goals.
The Moroccan coach did not enter into a confrontation with the local football reality, but rather read the scene as it is, so he maintained the elements that created the historic achievement in the World Cup, and at the same time reopened the door to names like Al-Ersan and Abu Jalboush, gave an opportunity to Bani Odeh, and opened the goalkeeping file by calling up Alec Samir.
This reading seems consistent with the nature of the stage; Al-Nashama do not need a complete reconstruction after the World Cup achievement, as much as they need to develop what has been achieved, address the gaps, and expand the base of options before reaching the Asian Cup.
The matches against Syria and Venezuela will be the first practical test for Zaki, not only to measure the capabilities of the new faces, but also to know the shape he wants to give the team in the coming stage.
Al-Nashama will begin their training on Tuesday, September 22, before facing Syria at 8:00 PM on Sunday, September 27, at King Abdullah II Stadium, then facing Venezuela at the same time on Tuesday, October 6, at the same stadium.
Between the old base and the new faces, Zaki begins his mission from a point that seems clear: "Preserving the personality of Al-Nashama, while giving the team a new space for development before the major Asian entitlement.".
