Ali Azaizeh shines for Al-Shabab to set international sights

BARCELONA: A feature of Jordan’s rise to footballing prominence over the past two years has been their fearsome attacking triumvirate. Stade Rennais’ Musa Al-Taamari might win all the plaudits but his partners in crime, Ali Olwan and Yazan Al-Naimat, scored the goals that delivered World Cup qualification and appearances at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and 2025 FIFA Arab Cup finals.

Unfortunately for fans of the Nashama, Olwan and Al-Naimat have picked up injuries, with the latter ruled out of the World Cup finals. Who will help Al-Taamari shoulder the load is now an open question, but a 22-year-old might have provided an answer last week in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

Ali Azaizeh was a surprise signing for Al-Shabab in January but the pair are proving to be the perfect match. The Jordanian attacker was overlooked by the senior national team before the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup. After Jordan’s run to the final the young guns favored to make the World Cup squad were Odeh Fakhoury, who parlayed his tournament performances into a move to Pyramids FC, and Goztepe’s Ibrahim Sabra.

Azaizeh was left to captain the U-23 national team, a responsibility he took on with gusto. Two goals and an assist against Saudi Arabia and the winner against Kyrgyzstan sent Jordan to the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Azaizeh scored again against holders and eventual champions Japan but the team were eliminated after a penalty kick shootout.

Four goals saw Azaizeh finish as the tournament’s top scorer and opened the door for a short-term loan move to Al-Shabab. It was a gamble but Azaizeh has been betting on himself for the past year.

He was part of the 2020-21 Al-Ramtha side that won the league and the Supercup in Jordan but a move