Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami believes his side’s lack of experience at the highest level played a key role in their 2-1 defeat to Algeria at Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco on Monday, but insisted he remains proud of the team’s efforts during their historic World Cup debut campaign.
The loss confirmed Jordan’s elimination from the tournament after back-to-back defeats in Group J.
They had previously suffered a 3-1 loss to Austria in their opening match.
Reflecting on the Algeria game, Sellami pointed to his opponents’ tactical adjustments and Jordan’s inexperience in dealing with crucial moments.
“The Algerian team made some substitutions that changed the game.
They introduced a very tall attacking player, and I think our lack of experience showed when they scored from two corner kicks while we were preparing to make our own changes during the cooling break,” he said.
Despite the disappointment of another defeat, the Moroccan coach praised his players for producing a much-improved display compared to their opening match.
“Overall, we played a very good game and we should be proud of our performance.
This is our first experience at the World Cup, and we were much better than we were in the first match,” Sellami added.
Jordan still have one group-stage fixture remaining against Argentina, and the coach sees it as an opportunity for his players to leave a lasting impression on the global stage.
“For us, facing Argentina is an opportunity. It is a chance to perform well and leave a mark that reflects the quality and spirit of Jordanian football,” he said.
Sellami also revealed that Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein visited the dressing room after the match to encourage the players following the defeat.
“Whenever you lose, there is naturally a feeling of disappointment and the players were not in the best frame of mind.
But his words lifted their spirits and gave them renewed encouragement,” Sellami said.
Although Jordan’s World Cup journey will end after the group stage, Sellami believes the experience has been an important step forward for the nation’s football development and a source of pride for supporters back home.
