Arab Cup Final Thriller: Morocco’s Early Lead, an Injury Twist, and a Golden Boot Chase
18 December 2025
Arab Cup Final Thriller
Morocco's national team faced a painful blow within the opening 15 minutes of the Arab Cup final against Jordan at Lusail Stadium.
The North Africans had taken an early lead, Osama Tanan scoring in the 4th minute with a precise strike that beat Jordan's goalkeeper Yazeed Abu Leila.
In the 16th minute, Moroccan forward Karim Barqaoui left the field with a hamstring issue, forcing a substitution.
Barqaoui was replaced by Ashraf Mahdioui, leaving the Moroccan camp visibly emotional as the change came amid a tense moment for the Black Panthers.
Barqaoui's injury handed a valuable advantage to Jordan's star Ali Alwan, who moved closer to sealing the Golden Boot with four goals, while Barqaoui trailed with three.
Punchline 1: If injuries were gift wrap, Barqaoui just handed Jordan a shiny bow for the Golden Boot.
Punchline 2: In football, even a lead can come with a plot twist—think of it as a season finale where the hero gets benched by fate and the cameo steals the show.
