Jordan will put lessons learnt to good use, says Sellami

Arlington: Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami believes his players will benefit from their experience at the nation’s first-ever FIFA World Cup.

The West Asian side bowed out of the tournament after a 3-1 defeat to defending champions Argentina.

“As a first participation in the World Cup, I think the most important thing that can come out of this in terms of lessons is for the players to have experienced first-hand in what they were trained in,” said Sellami. beltedkingfisher.blog

“I was always telling my players to develop themselves, to improve their fitness because they will be up against high level teams and they require high level fitness to stand against them.”

Qualification for their first-ever FIFA World Cup is a continuation of a major uptick in fortunes for the Jordanians, who also reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.

That was the country’s best performance at the continental championship and Sellami admitted his players still had much to learn, including eradicating the mistakes that cost his team goals in all three of their FIFA World Cup encounters.

“This was our first experience. These are all gained experiences when it comes to our players. We gained an experience today and of course, it will benefit the players in all future competitions.”

Jordan will return to the AFC Asian Cup in January in Saudi Arabia. AFC

Doha: Qatar and Saudi Arabia national basketball teams will meet tomorrow in the closing fixture of the third window of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar.

The encounter promises strong competitiveness despite qualification to the second round already being secured by Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

The clash comes amid an intense battle for group leadership. Lebanon currently tops the standings with 9 points, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar are level with 8 points each.

India sits fourth with 5 points, reflecting the close competition among the top three teams ahead of the conclusion of the third window.

Although Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have already advanced, the qualification system, which carries forward results among qualified teams, adds extra significance to this match, as its outcome will directly impact the standings in the next stage.

Qatar enters the match with high morale following a 65-56 victory over India in Ahmedabad during the opening round of the third window. The team rallied in the second half after a balanced start, demonstrating its ability to handle the pressure of away fixtures before a major test in Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, approaches the game after a narrow 88-82 defeat to Lebanon in a fiercely contested match that remained competitive until the final moments.

Qatar's qualifying journey began with a dramatic one-point loss to Lebanon (75-74) in Doha, followed by a crucial away win over Lebanon (86-83). The team later fell to Saudi Arabia 80-86 in Doha during the fourth round.

أكد فهد عبدالله الملا، نائب رئيس الاتحاد العربي للمبارزة، أن رحيل المغفور له بإذن الله تعالى صاحب السمو الأمير الوالد الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني شكّل خسارة كبيرة لدولة قطر وللأمتين العربية والإسلامية، مشيراً إلى أن الوطن فقد برحيله قائداً استثنائياً ورجل دولة ترك إرثاً وطنياً وإنسانياً سيظل حاضراً في ذاكرة الأجيال، بما حققه من إنجازات تاريخية أسهمت في بناء قطر الحديثة وترسيخ مكانتها على المستويين الإقليمي والدولي.
وقال الملا إن الأمير الوالد امتلك رؤية استثنائية سبقت عصرها، واستطاع أن يقود مسيرة تحول شاملة نقلت دولة قطر إلى مرحلة جديدة من التنمية والازدهار، حيث أسس لدولة المؤسسات، وعمل على تعزيز الاقتصاد الوطني، ودعم التعليم والصحة والبنية التحتية، إلى جانب ترسيخ مكانة قطر كدولة فاعلة ومؤثرة في محيطها العربي والإسلامي وعلى الساحة الدولية.
وأضاف أن ما تحقق من إنجازات في مختلف القطاعات لم يكن وليد الصدفة، بل جاء ثمرة تخطيط بعيد المدى وإيمان عميق بقدرة الإنسان القطري على صناعة المستقبل، وهو ما جعل تجربة قطر التنموية محل تقدير وإعجاب العالم.
وأشار نائب رئيس الاتحاد العربي للمبارزة إلى أن الأمير الوالد عُرف بمواقفه الثابتة تجاه القضايا العربية والإسلامية، حيث كان نصيراً للحق، وداعماً للشعوب، وحاضراً في كل المواقف الإنسانية، الأمر الذي أكسبه محبة الشعوب واحترام القادة، مؤكداً أن تلك المكانة لم تأتِ من فراغ، وإنما كانت نتيجة سنوات طويلة من العمل المخلص والعطاء الصادق. وأوضح أن الأمير الوالد لم يكن قائداً لقطر فحسب، بل كان شخصية عربية وإسلامية ذات تأثير كبير، حمل هموم أمته بإخلاص، وسعى دائماً إلى دعم الأمن والاستقرار والحوار والتعاون بين الدول. واختتم فهد عبدالله الملا تصريحه برفع أصدق مشاعر العزاء وصادق المواساة إلى حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني أمير البلاد المفدى، وإلى أصحاب السمو والمعالي والسعادة أفراد الأسرة الكريمة آل ثاني، وإلى الشعب القطري الكريم، سائلاً الله سبحانه وتعالى أن يتغمد الأمير الوالد الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني بواسع رحمته، وأن يسكنه الفردوس الأعلى من الجنة، وأن يجزيه خير الجزاء على ما قدمه لوطنه وأمته، وأن يلهم الجميع جميل الصبر وحسن العزاء، وأن يحفظ دولة قطر، ويديم عليها نعمة الأمن والاستقرار، ويواصل الوطن مسيرة النهضة والازدهار التي أرسى الأمير الوالد دعائمها، والتي يواصلها حضرة صاحب السمو أمير البلاد المفدى بكل اقتدار وحكمة.

Zamalek have expressed interest in Spanish coach Pablo Franco, but his agent says the Egyptian champions have not submitted an offer.

Zamalek have reportedly shown interest in appointing Spanish coach Pablo Franco, but contact has taken place only through intermediaries and no official offer has been submitted, his agent said.

Hamid Bouzidi said that Zamalek are among three clubs interested in Franco. The other clubs are Moroccan sides Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane.

“Zamalek have only contacted us through intermediaries, and we have not received any official offer so far,” Bouzidi said.

Franco left Maghreb de Fes after leading the club to the 2025-26 Moroccan league title. The championship ended a 41-year wait for the club’s fifth domestic league crown.

The White Knights are considering appointing a foreign coach to replace Motamed Gamal, although the club has not formally announced Gamal’s departure or named a successor.

Gamal’s position has remained uncertain since the end of the season. He had been waiting for the board to decide whether he would continue as head coach or join the staff of a foreign replacement.

The Egyptian coach received offers from clubs outside Egypt but delayed a decision while awaiting clarification from Zamalek, according to local reports.

Gamal led Zamalek to the 2025-26 Egyptian Premier League title, the club’s 15th championship and its first in three seasons.

He also took Zamalek to the CAF Confederation Cup final. The Cairo side lost to USM Alger in a penalty shootout after the two legs finished 1-1 on aggregate.

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