The Jordan Football Association (JFA) has maintained its trust in Moroccan tactical expertise by announcing the appointment of Badou Zaki as the new head coach of the “Al-Nashama” national team. Zaki becomes the third consecutive Moroccan manager to take charge, following Hussein Ammouta and Jamal Sellami.
The JFA clarified that Zaki will lead the team through upcoming tournaments, most notably the 2027 AFC Asian Cup scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia. His appointment comes after Sellami’s tenure concluded following Jordan’s historic first-ever appearance at the 2026 World Cup, which ended with three group-stage defeats.
The Moroccan era began with Hussein Ammouta in June 2023. He guided Jordan to their greatest historical achievement by reaching the AFC Asian Cup final for the first time, eliminating Iraq and South Korea before falling 3-1 to Qatar in the final. Ammouta stepped down in June 2024 for personal reasons, leaving behind a squad capable of competing against Asia’s giants.
Jamal Sellami successfully built on his compatriot’s foundations, achieving the monumental milestone of qualifying Jordan for the World Cup for the first time in history after finishing second in their group during the decisive round of Asian qualifiers. He also led Jordan to the 2025 Arab Cup final, losing 3-2 to Morocco after extra time, before his departure following the 2026 World Cup group-stage exit.
Zaki’s Tactical Mission and Core Challenges with Jordan
The 67-year-old manager faces the daunting task of sustaining the milestones achieved under Ammouta and Sellami. He is expected to steady the ship after the World Cup disappointments and prepare a squad capable of strongly competing in the 2027 Asian Cup, rather than merely relying on their previous runner-up status.
Furthermore, Zaki will be tasked with developing depth around Jordan’s core star players, primarily Musa Al-Taamari, Yazan Al-Naimat, and Ali Olwan.
A Decorated Managerial Career Across the Arab World and Africa
Badou Zaki boasts an extensive managerial career that kicked off in Moroccan football, where he managed top clubs like Wydad AC, FUS Rabat, Kawkab Marrakech, Olympic Safi, and Ittihad Tanger. He also enjoyed two stints as the head coach of the Morocco national team, famously leading the Atlas Lions to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, where they finished as runners-up to Tunisia.
The legendary former Moroccan international goalkeeper also held managerial roles with the Sudan and Niger national teams. In Algeria, he memorably guided CR Belouizdad to the Algerian Cup title in 2017. Zaki will look to leverage his vast continental experience to initiate a successful new chapter with Jordan and extend the Moroccan school’s golden run.
