Bahaa Faisal's Return to the National Team Amidst Public Praise and Offensive Alternatives
The recent call-up of Bahaa Faisal, the striker from Al-Wahda Club in Qatar, to the Jordanian national football team has been met with widespread acclaim among fans. This reaction has been particularly evident on social media platforms, where many supporters have expressed their satisfaction with Faisal's return to the roster after a significant absence from international competition.
Al-Wahda Club announced Faisal's selection for the upcoming national team training camp, which is set to take place at the end of this month. This camp is a crucial part of the preparations for the upcoming challenges, including the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Faisal's last appearance for the national team was during the Arab Cup in 2021, where he suffered a severe injury to his anterior cruciate ligament during a group stage match against Morocco. This injury sidelined him for an extended period, removing him from consideration for national team selections.
However, his return has sparked questions among some fans regarding whether his inclusion is a direct result of the injury sustained by fellow striker Yazan Al-Naimat, who is now facing difficulties in participating in upcoming matches. Alternatively, some speculate that Faisal's return is justified by his impressive current form in the Qatari league, given the national team's pressing need for additional attacking options.
National coach Othman Al-Hassanat indicated that Faisal's inclusion might have come a bit late, suggesting that he deserved a call-up in previous periods. He articulated that the timing of this call-up could be challenging, as it would have been preferable to integrate Faisal before the recent Arab Cup held in Qatar, where the national team finished as runners-up. Al-Hassanat emphasized that an earlier inclusion would have allowed Faisal to better blend with the team dynamics and adapt to the tactical strategies employed by the coaching staff.
Sports analyst Raafat Al-Abadi believes that Faisal's selection aligns with the coaching staff's search for offensive alternatives following Al-Naimat's injury. Al-Abadi noted that Faisal is a traditional striker, often positioned as a target man within the penalty area. While his playing style may not entirely align with the common 3-4-3 formation utilized by coach Jamal Salem, Al-Abadi praised Faisal's technical abilities and argued that he certainly merits a chance with the national team based on his notable performances in Qatar. He also recalled how Salem hinted at the possibility of Faisal's return during the national team’s training camp in Tunisia last year, a prediction that has now come to fruition.
Moreover, coach Mohammad Al-Ababneh echoed the sentiment that Faisal should have been part of the national team much earlier, at least as a bench option. Al-Ababneh pointed out that Faisal possesses the adaptability to fit into the team's playing style, noting that Al-Naimat also played a similar role as a primary striker. This suggests that Faisal can effectively fill that position and provide the necessary contributions to the team.
In conclusion, Al-Ababneh underscored the importance of the coaching staff having multiple tactical options rather than relying on a single style of play. The inclusion of a player like Bahaa Faisal not only enriches the offensive capabilities of the national team but also opens up discussions about other potential candidates, such as Youssef Abu Jalboush from Al-Hussein Irbid, who also deserves consideration for his commendable skills in supporting the attack. The national team is gearing up for a new training camp in the latter part of this month, which will include two friendly matches against Costa Rica and Nigeria.
As reported by alghad.com.
