The eyes of football fans in the Arab world will be on the stadium tomorrow evening (Monday) for the highly anticipated match between the brotherly Saudi national team and its Jordanian counterpart in the semi-finals of the 2025 Arab Cup, where the captain of the “Green Falcons”, the international star Salem Al-Dawsari, seeks to write a new line in the book of Saudi football history.
“The Tornado” enters this crucial match with his sights set on achieving an unprecedented personal record in his international career, which is to contribute to the scoring of the fourth consecutive match in one tournament, an achievement that reflects the technical and mental stability that the player has reached in his years of football maturity.
An exceptional journey in the Arab wedding
The Green’s path to the semi-finals was not paved with roses, but Al-Dossari’s imprint was strongly present in the Qatari stadiums, which have always been a good omen for him, recalling memories of his global brilliance in the 2022 World Cup. In the current edition of the Arab Cup, Salem succeeded in providing decisive goal contributions in three consecutive matches in which he participated, confirming that he is the difficult number in the lineup of the French coach Hervé Renard.
The story began in the group stage against Oman, where Al-Dawsari led the Green Falcons to a 2-1 victory, setting up both goals with magical touches that revealed his exceptional vision on the field. He continued his solo performance against Comoros, contributing to a resounding 3-1 win by providing two assists and scoring the third goal, delivering one of his finest displays in the national team jersey.
Despite being rested tactically against Morocco, the captain returned more brilliantly in the quarter-final against Palestine, creating a goal and causing a penalty kick that Firas Al-Buraikan converted into a goal, completing a series of contributions that he aspires to extend against “Al-Nashama”.
The Tornado: Numbers that speak of a living legend
Salem Al-Dawsari's career cannot be reduced to a single tournament. The player, who has made 103 official international appearances, has become an icon of modern Saudi football. Statistics show his contribution to 39 international goals (25 goals and 14 assists), but his impact transcends mere numbers; he is a leader who rises to the occasion in crucial matches, a player capable of turning the tide of a game with a single touch or a blistering run.
The Jordan match is doubly important, not only because it is the gateway to the dream final, but also because it comes at a time when the Saudi national team is experiencing an offensive surge, having scored 7 goals in the tournament. Salem had a major hand in all of them, whether by scoring, creating, or directly causing opportunities, which places on his shoulders the responsibility of leading a new generation of players towards regional podiums.
Impact of the expected win
Al-Dawsari's success in leading the Saudi national team past Jordan will not only secure their place in the final, but will also solidify Saudi football's position as a regional powerhouse and boost morale ahead of upcoming international competitions. Furthermore, winning the title will add another jewel to the crown of "The Tornado," a former Asian Player of the Year, and reaffirm that his thirst for gold remains unquenchable, no matter how many years pass.
