The wait of Pakistani football fans is finally over as international football returns to the capital. Pakistan football team will be taking on the 2023 AFC Asian Cup runners-up Jordan at the Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad. The crucial FIFA WCQ fixture is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 pm on 21st March.
Pakistan and Jordan sit in 4th and 3rd place, respectively in Group G of the AFC 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Jordan will be looking to climb up the group after having claimed just 1 point from the opening two games while Pakistan will be looking to avoid another drubbing as they were humiliated by Tajikistan in the previous home game.
How have been Shaheens’ preparations for the FIFA WCQ fixture against Jordan?
Pakistan football team’s preparation for the crucial FIFA WCQ fixture against Jordan has been shambolic. After a dismal display against Tajikistan in November 2023, it was expected that the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) will step up its efforts to prepare the team well for the next batch of qualifying games. Unfortunately, nothing has changed since that game and no concrete measures have been taken by the PFF to uplift the skill level of Pakistan’s domestic players.
Pakistan’s game against Tajikistan remains the only competitive match that the men in green have played over the last four months. Four months without competitive football action is a long time in the football world. With Pakistan having no official domestic leagues of its own, PFF needed to arrange at least one or two international friendlies for the Shaheens before the Jordan game.
This would have allowed Stephen Constantine some time to refamiliarize the players with the team tactics and provide an opportunity for the diaspora and local players to improve their link-up play. Unfortunately, the PFF has failed to do so. PFF did announce last year that the Men in Green will be traveling to Saudi Arabia for a training camp, as part of the MoU signed between the two football nations. But that plan also failed to materialize.
Another thing that has not changed since that match against Tajikistan is the tussle between the PFF and the Pakistan Sports Board. PSB had assured PFF that flood lights according to FIFA regulations would be installed at the Jinnah Stadium before the game against Jordan. But the PSB failed to fulfill its commitment hence raising doubts about the game being held in Islamabad.
PFF had earlier decided to hold the match at night due to Ramadan. But since the flood lights could not be installed in time it was eventually decided to move the kick-off time back to 2 pm. Playing while fasting is going to be a big ask for the local Pakistan players who have had very little in-match training over the last few months.
Furthermore, the training camp for the local players started just a week before the Jordan game. It was pivotal that these players had at least three weeks of preparation with the coaching staff, especially after a gap of 4 months. All this fiasco over the last few months has raised concerns about the future of Pakistan football under the current regime. Anyways Stephen Constantine would be hoping that his diaspora players can help to motivate the local players and produce a more respectable final scoreline than the last time against Tajikistan.
What can we expect from Jordan?
Jordan is one of the most in-form teams in Asia right now. They are currently ranked 70th in the FIFA World Rankings and enjoyed a great run in the recently concluded AFC Asian Cup. They defied all odds by finishing the competition as runners-up.
Buoyed by their recent success the Arab side will be eager to put their World Cup Qualifying campaign back on track after accumulating just one point from the opening two games. So, the Shaheens are going to face the full wrath of their opponents if they continue to make the same mistakes as they did against Tajikistan.
Jordan’s manager, Hussein Ammouta, likes to operate with a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Musa Al-Taamari and Yazan Al-Naimat being the focal point of his attack. Yazan plays his club football in the Qatar Star League for Al-Ahli SC, whereas Al-Taamari plays in Europe for Montpellier of France.
Stephen Constantine and the Shaheens need to find a way to neutralize the threat of this attacking duo, otherwise, it is going to be another forgettable outing for the men in green.
What changes are expected in Pakistan’s lineup?
The 24-member squad finalized by Stephen Constantine for the FIFA WCQ fixtures against Jordan was announced by the PFF on 17th March. The squad consists of eight diaspora players and 16 local players. Fans favorite Otis Khan misses out after picking up an injury with his club Hartlepool United. In contrast, Easah Suliman returns to the squad after having missed the previous two games due to injury.
Other noticeable absentees include Junaid Shah and Moin Ahmad. Junaid’s exclusion has come as a bit of a surprise as he was doing a decent job at left back for the Shaheens. Although he did have a tough outing against Tajikistan, still he should not have been axed from the squad as Pakistan does not have much cover for that position. Mohammad Fazal, another diaspora player, who plays his club football in the Swedish third tier will be making his debut as a left-back, in Junaid’s absence.
Rao Umar Hayat and Shayak Dost are also expected to return to the starting eleven after having missed out on the previous game due to suspension. Both are quite strong defensively and provide an attacking threat when going forward. Moreover, Rahis Nabi and Alamgir Ghazi are expected to start at the heart of Pakistan’s midfield.
Meanwhile, Harun Hamid, the hero from the Cambodia game, is expected to start on the bench as he is nursing an injury. In his absence, Imran Kayani and Fareed Khan are expected to lead the attacking line for the Shaheens.
Expected Lineup:
(Formation: 4-4-2): Yousaf Butt, Umar Hayat, Easah Suliman, Abdullah Iqbal, Muhammad Fazal, Abdul Samad, Rahis Nabi, Alamgir Ghazi, Shayak Dost, Fareed Khan, Imran Kayani
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