It’s one Moroccan mentor replacing another, as Badou Zaki takes over from Jamal Sellami as Jordan head coach.
Sellami led the Nashama during the recently concluded , their debut outing at the global finals. There, they finished bottom of Group J after three straight defeats against Austria, Algeria and Argentina.
That saw a , with Zaki now announced as the man to lead Jordan into the forthcoming Asian Cup.
The well-travelled 67-year-old has coached a host of club and national teams across Africa, including two stints in charge of the Atlas Lions, from 2002-2005 and then 2014-2016, as well as recent spells at the helm of Sudan and Niger.
The former goalkeeper enjoyed a glittering playing career, highlighted by captaining Morocco as they reached the Round of 16 at the 1986 FIFA World Cup™.
Announcing the appointment, the Jordan Football Association highlighted Zaki’s pedigree, both on the pitch and on the touchline.
“Badou Zaki has had a distinguished career as a player and coach, as he led the Moroccan national team to a historic achievement in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico after reaching the Round of 16. He was also crowned the best African player in 1986, and achieved a distinguished career with Spanish club Real Mallorca.
“On the coaching front, Zaki led the Moroccan national team to the final of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. He also led a number of clubs and national teams, most notably Wydad AC, FUS Rabat, Kawkab Marrakech, and Ittihad Tanger, in addition to the national teams of Sudan and Niger.”
Zaki has been signed to an initial one-year-contract as Jordan looks to improve on a runners-up finish at the previous edition of the Asian Cup. At the forthcoming tournament, to be held in Saudi Arabia from January-February next year, the nation will face Uzbekistan, Bahrain and Korea DPR in Group B.
Sources: FIFA Official
