“Nashama” Falcons kick off their campaign in the second window with a highly anticipated clash against Iran

The technical staff of the Jordanian national men’s basketball team, known as the “Nashama Falcons”, have officially launched preparations for the second window of the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 Basketball World Cup, announcing a preliminary squad of 16 players for an internal training camp.

Administrative support and intensive training The team began their training sessions at Prince Hamzah Hall in the Hussein Youth City, under the supervision of Canadian head coach Roy Rana and his assistant staff.

The President of the Jordan Basketball Federation, Dr. Samir Bakir, attended the first training session, reaffirming his confidence in the players and their ability to continue representing the country strongly on the continental stage. He emphasized the federation’s commitment to providing an ideal environment for both the technical and administrative teams to succeed.

The Falcons squad: a blend of experience and youth The initial roster prominently features stars from local clubs, while key core players are expected to join in the next phase:

• Ittihad Amman: Ahmad Hmarsha, Hashem Abbas, Fadi Mustafa “Freddy,” Amin Abu Hawas, Youssef Abu Wazna, Fadi Qarmash, Yazan Al-Tawil

• Al-Faisaly: Mohammad Shaher, Abdullah Olajwan, Adham Al-Dajani, Ahmad Al-Khazaaleh, Youssef Dweik

• Al-Wehdat: Malik Kanaan, Ahmad Hassouna, Akef Al-Shiyab

• Al-Jubeiha: Mahmoud Al-Hazaimeh

• Professionals & naturalized players (joining later): Ahmad Al-Dweiri (Turkish League) and naturalized player Jalen Harris

Match schedule According to the announced program, the “Nashama” Falcons will kick off their second window campaign with a much-anticipated match against Iran at 7:00 PM on Friday, February 27, followed by a second game against Iraq at 4:00 PM on Monday, March 2. Both matches will be held at a neutral venue in Beirut, Lebanon, specifically at the Nihad Noufal Sports and Theater Complex in the Zouk Mikael area.

World Cup ambitions Through this training camp, the Falcons aim to improve physical readiness and enhance tactical cohesion, with a full technical team including Japanese coach Makoto Mamiya, national coach Naif Asfour, and specialized medical and administrative staff.

The Jordan Basketball Federation places full trust in the players’ high morale to achieve positive results that strengthen their chances of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, reaffirming Jordan’s status as one of the basketball powerhouses in Asia.