Kuala Lumpur: With the draw for the Women's Asian Cup 2018 Jordan on December 9, the-AFC.com starts the countdown by profiling hosts Jordan, who are set to create history next April.
Head coach: Michael Dickey (USA)
Current FIFA ranking: 50
AFC Women’s Asian Cup appearances: 2014
Best finish: Group stage (2014)
Whatever the result in next April’s tournament, Jordan will make history by becoming the first West Asian nation to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, but they are also aiming to become the first team from the region to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Jordanians have been one of Asia’s busiest women’s national teams in 2017, featuring in no less than 14 ‘A’ internationals, in addition to friendlies against club teams from the United States and France.
Despite qualifying automatically as hosts, Jordan participated in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in Tajikistan where they racked up 37 goals on their way to five consecutive wins and top spot in Group A.
Striker Maysa Jbarah and captain Stephanie Al-Naber combined for 22 goals in those five matches, with Jbarah’s 13 goals the most of any player on the road to Jordan 2018.
Following the qualifying tournament, Jordan hired experienced American coach Michael Dickey, and earned their first international win on European soil when they beat Latvia in September.
Such results underline Jordan’s status as a growing force in the women’s game. Now - with the experience of the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup under their belt, and a nation of passionate fans cheering them on – they appear ready to take the next step.
Key player: Stephanie Al-Naber
Over the last decade Stephanie Al-Naber (pictured above, right) has been ever-present for Jordan’s major achievements in the women’s game.
In addition to helping Jordan to three WAFF Women’s Championship titles, Al-Naber scored in the crucial win over Uzbekistan which secured qualification for the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, then found the back of the net against Australia in the tournament proper.
But 2018 presents the highlight of the 29-year-old midfield star’s career, as she leads her country in Asia’s flagship women’s tournament on home soil for the first time.
If her from in the qualifying tournament, where she scored nine goals in five matches from midfield, can be used as a guide, the face of Jordanian women’s football will soon be recognised throughout Asia and beyond.
Qualifying stage
Jordan qualified automatically as AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 hosts, but still participated in qualifying Group A in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
GROUP A
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
PTS
JORDAN
5
5
0
0
37
3
34
15
PHILIPPINES
5
3
1
1
18
6
12
10
BAHRAIN
5
2
2
1
10
8
2
8
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
5
2
1
2
5
11
-6
7
TAJIKISTAN
5
1
0
4
3
23
-20
3
IRAQ
5
0
0
5
0
22
-22
0
Jordan - ‘A’ internationals in 2017
Opponent
Result
Competition
Venue
Date
Algeria
2-1
Friendly
Amman, Jordan
10/02/2017
Algeria
2-3
Friendly
Amman, Jordan
13/02/2017
Bahrain
6-0
WAC Qualifiers
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
03/04/2017
UAE
6-0
WAC Qualifiers
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
05/04/2017
Iraq
10-0
WAC Qualifiers
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
07/04/2017
Tajikistan
10-2
WAC Qualifiers
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
10/04/2017
Philippines
5-1
WAC Qualifiers
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
12/04/2017
Algeria
0-1
Friendly
Amman, Jordan
17/06/2017
Algeria
3-2
Friendly
Amman, Jordan
20/06/2017
Croatia
0-3
Friendly
Zagreb, Croatia
28/07/2017
Bosnia-Herz.
2-4
Friendly
Zenica, Bosnia-Herz.
01/08/2017
Bosnia-Herz.
2-2
Friendly
Zenica, Bosnia-Herz.
04/08/2017
Latvia
2-1
Friendly
Riga, Latvia
27/09/2017
Japan
2-0
Friendly
Amman, Jordan
24/11/2017
Turkey 2-1 Friendly Istanbul, Turkey 27/11/2017
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com