Jordan Call-Up Sparks Attention: West Brom Striker Tamer Bany Odeh Named for Tunisia and Mali Friendlies

Jordan Names 30-man Squad for Tunisia and Mali Friendlies

The Jordan national team, under Moroccan coach Jamal Salami, has announced a 30-man squad for upcoming friendlies against Tunisia and Mali as part of preparations for the Arab Cup.

Among the returnees is Ahmad Arsan of Al-Faisaly, coming back after a long absence due to his domestic form and top-scorer status.

Four new faces join the group, headlined by Tamer Bany Odeh, a 22-year-old striker for West Bromwich Albion, born in Denmark with Jordanian roots.

Other additions include Ahmad Al-Salman of Al-Ramtha, Ali Hajbi of Al-Hussein Irbid, and returning winger Awwad Al-Fakhouri of Al-Hussein Irbid.

The squad totals 30 players with a balance of goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, designed to cover the two tune-up matches and a broader World Cup and Asian Cup preparation window.

Goalkeepers: Yaser Abu Leila (Al-Hussein Irbid), Noor Bani Attiya (Al-Faisaly), Malik Shalabi (Al-Ramtha).

Defenders: Abdullah Nasib (Al-Zawraa, Iraq), Yazan Al-Arab (Seoul FC, South Korea), Husam Abu Al-Dhabi (Al-Salmiya, Kuwait), Mohammad Abu Al-Nadi (Selangor, Malaysia), Hadi Al-Hourani (Al-Faisaly), Salim Obaid (Al-Hussein Irbid), Saad Al-Rosan (Al-Hussein Irbid), Mohannad Abu Taha (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Iraq), Mohammed Abu Hashish (Al-Karkh or Karmah, Iraq).

Midfielders: Ali Hajbi (Al-Hussein Irbid), Adham Al-Quraishi (Al-Hussein Irbid), Essam Al-Samiri (Al-Salt), Nizar Al-Rashdan (Al-Zawraa), Rajai Ayed (Al-Hussein Irbid), Ibrahim Saada (Al-Karma, Iraq), Noor Al-Ruwabda (Selangor, Malaysia), Amer Jamous (Al-Wahdat), Ahmad Al-Salman (Al-Ramtha).

Forwards: Mousa Tamari (Rennes, France), Ali Azzayza (Kazma, Kuwait), Mohammad Abu Zreik "Shara" (Ramtha), Awwad Al-Fakhouri (Al-Hussein Irbid), Tamer Bany Odeh (West Bromwich Albion, England), Ahmad Arsan (Al-Faisaly), Aref Al-Haj (Al-Hussein Irbid), Abdullah Al-Shaibat (Al-Ahli), Yazen Al-Naimat (Al-Arabi, Qatar).

Absence of Ali Alwan

Ali Alwan is undergoing rehab in Amman after an ankle ligament injury, while Mahmoud Mardhi and Ibrahim Sobra continue treatment and will miss the camp.

The team will begin internal gathering the day after tomorrow, before traveling to Tunisia on Wednesday for a training camp that includes a match against the hosts on Friday, November 14, followed by a clash with Mali on Tuesday, November 18.

The Jordan Football Association aims to use these camp sessions and friendlies to maximize readiness for the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar and the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Jordan having secured a World Cup berth for the first time in its history.

Jordan will compete in Group C of the Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar, alongside Egypt and the UAE, with the winner of Kuwait vs Mauritania also advancing from the group stage.

The federation also outlined a 25-man squad for the Olympic team, preparing for friendlies against Syria on November 13 and 18 in Amman in advance of the 2026 AFC Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.

The Under-23 roster includes a long list of players and the team is set to begin training Friday evening, with the squad to be rounded out in the days ahead after the domestic cup’s round of 16 concludes.

Asian Cup draw positioned Jordan in Group A with Saudi Arabia (hosts), Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan. The finals run January 6–25, 2026 in Saudi Arabia, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout rounds. The federation’s goal remains clear: optimal preparation and unwavering support for the youths as they chase Asia and World Cup glory.

Humor time: If Jordan’s defense learns to stop conceding, the goalkeeper will finally have a clean sheet so long it deserves its own press conference. Punchline: When in doubt, just tell the leg of the match to stay onside—it's always a good idea to keep the ball between the posts and the laughs between the lines.