Latest news with #Sellami
Observer
4 days ago
- Sport
- Observer
Rasheed targets playoff spot after Jordan defeat
MUSCAT, June 6 The national football team head coach, Rasheed Jaber, voiced confidence that the team can return back in the concluding match at the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 on coming Tuesday against Palestine in Amman city. ' I am confident that the team can bounce back strongly and vie for a playoff spot. I hope all the players put the defeat behind and begin concentrating on the next assignment which is securing a place in the playoffs as an additional two tickets to next year's Fifa World Cup Finals will be at stake,' he added. Jordan imprinted their name in the history as they secured their maiden World Cup qualification in group B following their 3-0 win over Oman on Thursday night to join South Korea to the Fifa World Cup after their convincing 2-0 win over Iraq. Jordan's striker Ali Olwan was the man of the match as he starred with a hat-trick and delivered his team crucial three points to reach 16 points and book their spot at next year's global showpiece ahead of their match against Iraq on Tuesday as the latter suffered a 2-0 loss against South Korea. Oman, which has 10 ten points, will meet Palestine in Amman on Tuesday. Both teams will fight with Iraq on the remaining two playoff spots after Palestine edged Kuwait 2-0 on Thursday night to keep their hopes alive. "I extend my apologies to our fans, especially those who attended the match. We hoped to bring them joy, but the penalty late in the first half shifted the momentum. Jordan capitalised well and managed the second half with control and determination,' Jaber said 'We still have a final match in the qualifiers and we will fight for victory. It is important to rebuild our confidence and approach the game with full focus. The door to qualification via the playoffs is still open,' he concluded. On the other side, the head coach of Jordan Jamal Sellami celebrated his team's historic achievement, guiding Jordan to their first-ever Fifa World Cup qualification. Jordan's attendance in the global showpiece event was confirmed after South Korea's victory over Iraq by 2-0 as they secured top two slots in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26. 'We believed in the win, but to finish 3-0 exceeded our expectations. This result reflects the spirit, ambition, and commitment of our players,' Coach Sellami said. 'Qualifying for the World Cup is a dream come true for Jordanian football, and I am proud to be part of this journey. The first goal gave us the upper hand, forcing Oman to push forward, and we used that to our advantage.' Moroccan Sellami ended ...
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's economy pulled off ‘macroeconomic miracle' in past two years: Barron's
Barron's, an American weekly magazine and newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company, has lauded Pakistan's recent economic turnaround, terming it a 'macroeconomic miracle of sorts'—while also underscoring the fragility and deep structural risks the country still faces. 'The country of 255 million has pulled off a macroeconomic miracle of sorts over the past two years,' read the report published on Tuesday, highlighting key economic indicators suggesting macroeconomic stability, including a significant decline in the inflation rate from a record 38% in May 2023 to 0.3% in April 2025. 'Eurobonds maturing in 2031 have soared from 40 cents on the dollar to 80 cents. The Pakistan Stock Exchange index has tripled. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government reached a $7 billion stabilization agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last September,' with over $2 billion already disbursed, highlighted the report. 'Pakistan is a good story,' Genna Lozovsky, chief investment officer at Sandglass Capital Management, which buys distressed emerging markets debt, told Barron's. 'So good it's not risky enough for us anymore.' The report was of the view that the latest armed conflict with the neighbouring India 'won't likely knock Pakistan's recovery off course'. A sentiment shared by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who earlier told Reuters that the skirmish was a 'short duration escalation' with minimal fiscal impact, stating it can be 'accommodated within the fiscal space which is available to the government of Pakistan'. Meanwhile, Barron's noted that Pakistan remains largely dependent on international creditors, especially the IMF, and remains under the lender's bailout programme. 'Pakistan has been known for boom-and-bust cycles throughout its history,' notes Khaled Sellami, an emerging markets sovereign debt manager at Barings. However, Sellami sees some signs that this time could be different. 'The current account balance is positive, and they have a primary fiscal surplus [excluding interest payments],' he observed. 'That's something we haven't seen in many years,' Sellami said. Meanwhile, Alison Graham, chief investment officer at frontier markets specialist Voltan Capital Management, told Barron's that everyone thought Pakistan would default along with Sri Lanka in 2023. Instead, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) raised interest rates from 10% to 22%, a move that proved crucial in controlling inflation. It is pertinent to mention that since June 2024, the Pakistani central bank has cut the policy rate by 1,100bps, which currently hovers at 11%. '[Moreover] Pakistan's sovereign creditors—China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—rolled over their loans without extending new credit. Gross domestic product growth bounced back to 2.5% last year, and the country's books are uncustomarily balanced,' the report noted. However, Barron's pointed out that challenges remain for the South Asian country, as Islamabad, being under an IMF programme, 'is supposed to increase its tax take by half and slash electricity subsidies, among other uphill battles'. Moreover, Pakistan needs to up the ante on the export front. 'Cotton, apparel and cereals account for two-thirds of Pakistan's exports. It is belatedly moving into IT outsourcing, foreign sales rising from near nothing to $3 billion annually over the past few years,' Sellami said, compared to India, which is in the $200 billion range. The report warned that without a value-added ladder to climb, 'fate and free-spending election cycles may continue driving Pakistan's boom and bust'. 'Pakistan remains extremely fragile to external shocks,' Graham told Barron's. 'When there is a rally, you need to be in early.' Meanwhile, Sellami remained 'constructive' on Pakistani Eurobonds. He noted that as Pakistan's strategic importance to the US has diminished, its allies, including China and the Gulf states, have stated that they won't offer blank cheques anymore. 'The government knows if they deviate from the tightrope they are walking, they won't have external finance,' he said.
Jordan Times
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Jordan Times
Crown Prince joins national football team's training
HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Wednesday attends the national football team's training session, as the players made their final preparations for their upcoming match against Palestine (Petra photo) AMMAN — HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Wednesday evening attended the national football team's training session, as the players made their final preparations for their upcoming match against Palestine. The match, scheduled for Thursday at 9:15pm at Amman International Stadium, is a key fixture in the third and final round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The national team, under coach Jamal Sellami, conducted its last practice session at the match venue, with media present. Reports indicate that the players are physically and technically ready for the "important" match. Sellami stressed the importance of securing a win in his pre-match comments, saying: 'We are fully aware of the challenge ahead, facing a team with strong players. Our goal is to secure three points and keep progressing towards qualification.' Although the team will be missing Ali Alwan for the match, Sellami expressed confidence in the remaining squad members. 'Our ambition remains strong as we push forward towards the World Cup, and we are confident the players will deliver a positive result,' he added. Midfielder Nizar Rashdan stressed the significance of the game, noting that the team's focus is on continuing their momentum. 'We are committed to playing at our highest level to keep our qualification hopes alive. Our goal is to make our fans proud, who have been supporting us all along,' he said. The pre-match technical meeting confirmed the organisational details, with Jordan playing in white and Palestine in red. Next, Jordan will face South Korea on Tuesday at 2:00pm Jordan time at Suwon World Cup Stadium. The national team is currently in third place in Group B of the qualification round with nine points, trailing South Korea (14 points) and Iraq (11 points). The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while third and fourth place teams will move on to the fourth qualification round.
