Jordan’s Musab Allahham (20) vies for the ball against Oman’s Raed Saleh (6) during their 2015 Asian Cup group A qualifying football match at the King Abdullah International Stadium in the Jordanian capital Amman, on October 15, 2013. (AFP PHOTO /KHALIL MAZRAAWI)
In a bid to reach the World Cup finals for the first time, Jordan will take on the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions on Monday night. They will further test their credentials against Zambia, the 2012 African champions, in Doha on November 4.
The two friendly games against strong African opposition will provide a tough test for the Jordanians, who will have to overcome Uruguayan resistance in order to book their place in Brazil next summer.
Qualification for the African teams has yet to be decided, but Nigeria are still in contention after winning their group and Zambia narrowly missed out on qualifying to group winners Ghana.
Having fended off Uzbekistan in the Asian zone play-off, Jordan have the chance to write their names in the history books when they square up to the likes of Liverpool star Luis Suárez, Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani and the highly experienced Diego Forlán, who currently plays for International of Brazil.
Although finishing fifth in Latin American qualifying, Uruguay will prove to be a formidable opponent for the Jordanians and a positive outcome for the Middle Eastern country is difficult to envisage.
Al-Nashama will welcome Uruguay–the 2010 World Cup semi-finalists–to Amman for the first leg of the play-off on November 13 and will hope they are still in contention come the second leg in Montevideo on November 20.