• Fluctuating performance and lessons to learn

The Jordan U-20 women’s national team concluded its training camp in Sarajevo, Bosnia, with a challenging friendly match, suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat against the Bosnian side.

• Tough final friendly exposes gaps in readiness against European teams • Coaching staff tasked with addressing defensive errors and improving attacking efficiency

The match, held at Zanitsa Stadium, marked the end of an intensive preparation program ahead of the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup finals, which Thailand will host next April.

This harsh result, following a previous 3-0 loss to Bosnia’s Mostar team during the same camp, highlights the difference in physicality and competitive experience compared to European setups, raising questions about the team’s final readiness for the continental tournament.

The lineup rotation allowed more players to gain experience against European-level competition.

The players who represented Jordan in the match were: Sajida Issa, Renad Al-Shweiki (Lamar Al-Shalabi), Ranim Al-Dawood, Lilia Al-Sahli (Maya Awadallah), Rama Al-Khashouk, Hala Marar (Dana Abu Hazim), Marah Abbas, Diana Al-Khawaja (Raghad Al-Tarawneh), Kenda Titi, Haya Abu Ali (Afnan Hammad), Jannah Matooq (Mira Attari).

The 5-0 loss in the camp’s final match underscores the challenging task ahead for the coaching staff: correcting defensive tactical mistakes and enhancing attacking efficiency, as the team failed to score in both friendlies.

Exposure to strong and stylistically diverse European teams provides tough but necessary lessons on quick decision-making and coping with intense physical pressure, factors that will be crucial in the AFC finals.

The national team delegation is expected to return to Amman early Thursday, bringing back valuable experience and lessons to build on during the remaining preparation stages.

The camp included 21 players: Selin Saif, Sajida Issa, Renata Al-Badaina, Ranim Al-Dawood, Renad Shweiki, Maya Awadallah, Maysam Al-Aqtash, Lilia Al-Sahli, Noor Ahmed, Mira Attari, Rama Al-Khashouk, Lamar Ibrahim, Afnan Hammad, Marah Abbas, Raghad Al-Tarawneh, Hala Marar, Diana Al-Khawaja, Dana Abu Hazim, Kenda Titi, Haya Abu Ali, and Jannah Matooq. This squad forms the core that will carry Jordan’s women’s football ambitions to Thailand.

Historic qualification: stepping stone to Thailand

Despite the tough friendly results in Bosnia, it is important to recall the historic achievement of the Jordan U-20 women’s national team: qualifying for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026.

This qualification came after the conclusion of Group 7 in the Asian qualifiers held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Qualifier details:

• Position and qualification: Jordan secured a place in the finals as one of the top three second-placed teams in the Asian qualifiers, a system designed to allow more teams to reach the finals alongside the eight group winners.

• Group 7 standings: Uzbekistan topped the group with 7 points ahead of Jordan on goal difference; Northern Mariana Islands finished third with 3 points, and Bahrain last with no points.

Federation vision: continued support and future focus

The Jordan Football Association relies heavily on training camps and friendly matches for the U-20 women’s team to ensure the highest level of preparation and support ahead of the fiercely competitive AFC finals.

This strategy aims to prepare the players not only physically and technically but also mentally and psychologically to face top Asian teams.

Despite the harsh results, the friendly camps serve as a clear benchmark, revealing the areas where the team needs to improve technically and tactically before the decisive matches in April, when the Asian Cup will be the ultimate test of the development of Jordanian women’s football at the U-20 level.