Four Jordanian players took up positions inside the opposition penalty area, tirelessly attempting to outsmart their markers to find that little bit of space that would allow them to convert the impending cross. 

A two-woman wall lined-up to cover the tight angle as she took two steps back and prepared to take the free-kick. With everyone in the box awaiting her delivery from the right flank, Stephanie Al Naber had different plans, she always did. 

The Jordan skipper took a quick look and rifled a curling strike past the wall, beating the Uzbek goalkeeper at her near post to send the home crowd into raptures. 

With 15 minutes to go in the game, Al Naber’s goal, the third in an eventual 4-0 triumph, put the game beyond Uzbekistan, in the process sending Jordan to their first ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2014. 

Thinking differently has been a constant in Al Naber’s life. Defying the stereotypes, she played street football in Amman from an early age, often going head-to-head against her younger brother Youssef, now a Jordanian international midfielder who plies his trade at Shabab Al Ordon, one of the country’s leading clubs. 

Becoming a footballer developed into an obsession for young Stephanie, and by age 17 she was part of the Shabab Al Ordon side that won the inaugural nationwide women’s football championship in Jordan. 

The club has a special connection to the Al Naber family, as Stephanie’s younger sister Natasha also represents the team and their father, Mazen Al Naber, is a member of the its board of directors. 

Al Naber reflects on that evening at Amman International Stadium when her goal helped realise the dream of an entire generation of women footballers in the country and establish Jordan as pioneers in women’s football in the region. 

“I have been with the team for so long, but my favourite memory is that game against Uzbekistan,” remembers the now 30-year-old. 

“A 4-0 win that night in front of our own fans led us to qualify for our first ever AFC Asian Cup in the 2014 edition in Vietnam.” 

Pitted against hosts Vietnam, eventual champions Japan and runners-up Australia in Group A, Jordan had their work cut out in the finals and ultimately bowed out with three defeats, but it was a learning experience against sides with a much longer history in the women’s game than them. 

Despite the frustration of the early exit, there was still a chance for a bit of history to be made as Maysa Jbarah registered the country’s maiden AFC Asian Cup goal in the opener against Vietnam and Al Naber left her mark with the team’s solitary goal in the 3-1 defeat to Australia. 

Four years on from the Vietnam experience, Al Naber and her teammates are back on the continental stage, although this time Jordan did not have to contend with the roller-coaster ride of navigating the qualifying campaign. 

Al Nashmiyat had automatically booked their place in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 as the host nation, and Al Naber’s pride of leading the national team players out onto the pitch on this big occasion on home soil is unparalleled. 

“Being the captain of Jordan women’s national team is definitely an honour and privilege for me,” Al Naber says, “The feeling I get every time I put on the jersey with the flag on my chest and the band on my arm is a feeling I will never ever forget or get to experience anything closely as emotional. 

“Let alone getting to do so in Jordan at an important tournament that can lead us to a childhood dream that I believed we can do from the start – to qualify to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in 2019.” 

A childhood dream for Al Naber it may be, but the squad backed by the Jordan Football Association and the coaching staff are sparing no effort in making sure World Cup qualification becomes a reality. 

Despite being the host nation, Jordan did play in the qualifiers, and with their place in the competition guaranteed, the matches offered Al Nashmiyat the chance to get some competitive action and prepare for what is to come. 

They flexed their muscles against their Asian opponents, topping the qualifying Group A in style. Al Naber contributed nine goals as Jordan strolled to five wins out of five in the fixtures played in Tajikistan in April 2017. Teammate Jbarah was the only player to score more in the qualifiers, netting 13 times. 

After consecutive 6-0 wins over Bahrain and the UAE, Jordan recorded double-digit victories against Iraq and the hosts Tajikistan. In the final game, they proved too strong for fellow qualifiers the Philippines, who were brushed aside 5-1. The Southeast Asians were drawn against Jordan again in Group A of the finals, alongside China PR and Thailand. 

Having conquered their group, Al Nashmiyat then upped the stakes, going on a pre- tournament European trip that saw them spend ten days in Madrid, where they were tested against three Spanish top division sides. 

Al Naber and co were up for the challenge, earning draws against Rayo Vallecano and Madrid CCF and only losing to Spain’s Primera Division leaders Atletico Madrid. 

Results were not as good in Jordan’s subsequent Alanya Women’s Cup in Turkey, where they found themselves clashing with nations much higher in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings. Coach Michael Dickey’s team lost to Poland, Romania and Mexico, who all rank in FIFA’s top 40, and earned a 2-0 win against Latvia. 

Challenging themselves against tough opponents is an approach Al Naber has been happy with as Jordan look to make their World Cup dreams come true. 

“The main objective that we have been preparing for since April 2017 is to qualify to the World Cup,” she admits. “We have worked so hard to be ready for this tournament, we played really important games over the past year in our preparations which taught us exactly what we need to work on and improve to achieve our goals.” 

Alongside experienced duo Al Naber and Jbarah, Jordan have in their ranks a number of young talents that can take them far in the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and for years to come. The captain is full of praise for her younger teammates. 

“Salma Ghazal, our 18-year-old promising goalkeeper; Tasneem Abu Rob, our 17-year-old midfielder; and Rouzbahan Freij our 17-year-old defender [are stars of the future],” she points out. 

“Both Tasneem and Rouzbahan have also represented Jordan at the U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and that enriched their international experience and self-esteem as well.” 

Finishing in the top five to reach the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup might be Jordan’s stated objective in the tournament they are hosting, but Al Naber has no qualms about setting the bar even higher for herself and her teammates, aiming towards a place in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup semi-finals and perhaps going even further. 

“If we could reach the World Cup, that means we also have the possibility of finishing in the top four, and that takes us to a whole new level of ambitions. Who knows, maybe even winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.” 

Coming top has always been a target Al Naber has eyed and worked for, and with that attitude she has come a long way from the days of kicking a ball about in the streets of Amman with the boys. 

Her rapid development almost mirrored that of the women’s sport in Jordan. After all, as a teenager, Al Naber was a part of the very first women’s national team setup 13 years ago. 

“Women’s football in Jordan has changed a lot since we started back in 2005,” reflects the veteran midfielder. “The support from the Jordan Football Association has increased, the game is more popular, the fan base is bigger, and of course the mentality of the society has changed positively towards women playing football in Jordan. 

“That gave young girls the courage to join clubs and play football, which increased the number of players and made them commit to the game.” 

The results of these efforts are evident today as Jordan is, for the second time in a row, the only West Asian country to be at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Although club football in the country continues to lag slightly behind, which is one reason that drove Al Naber to pursue playing her football in other leagues in the region. 

Now back in Jordan after her career took her to represent clubs across West Asia, from the UAE to Lebanon, Al Naber offers her assessment of the progress of the sport in the area. 

“Women’s football in the West Asia region started a bit late, where in other regions it was already popular and way ahead. West Asia is a conservative region and it took time for society to understand and accept the fact that women can also play football and there is nothing wrong with that.” 

“We are getting there, but national associations need to start with girls at a young age with the right training programmes to get them ready physically and mentally to compete at a high level when they reach the senior teams,” she adds. 

The Jordanian skipper always relished a challenge, and the biggest of all came in 2009, when she was approached by Danish Club Fortuna Hjorring, and without hesitation she took the challenge head on. Al Naber ended up spending one full season with the nine-time Danish champions and scoring six goals from midfield. 

“It was one of the most interesting and exciting experiences I have ever had in my life,” recalls Al Naber, who played primarily as a left winger for the 2003 UEFA Women’s Cup finalists. 

“It was a dream come true to play in Europe professionally and be able to live a life of a professional football player. I will not lie to you and say it was easy. No, it was the hardest thing I have ever experienced; living alone in a country where I knew no one, having to play with top players, top teams, and get to experience the UEFA Women’s Champions League. 

Al Naber insists that she learnt a lot during her time at Fortuna Hjorring, benefitting from the higher level of training and stricter professional lifestyle. The one thing she could not cope with in Northern Europe was the cold, gloomy Scandinavian weather in addition to being away from her family and friends. Eventually, this was what prompted her to make the decision to return to Jordan after just one season. 

Despite the brief spell in Denmark, Al Naber made history in becoming the first Jordanian and Arab female player to play football professionally in Europe. It is a legacy she is proud of and will continue to cherish. 

“This experience added a lot to me personally and football-wise, I have learned so much from the players, coaching staff, and living by myself. It opened a lot of doors to my football career.” 

Al Naber’s journey is one of determination, challenging the status quo and remaining defiant in the face of obstacles, no matter how difficult. And as one of Jordan’s greatest ever female athletes enters the latter years of her career, there is still one more mountain she is determined to climb. 

“What I know for sure is that it is a once-in-a-lifetime chance and for me it is my last chance to qualify to the World Cup and experience it.” 

Despite the ambition, she remains realistic in her assessment of the team’s chances of reaching the global event as Jordan also aim to become the first women’s team from West Asia to appear at a FIFA Women’s World Cup at senior level. 

“I know the team will give 100 percent, but after all it is football and just as there is a chance that we will win and qualify, there is also a chance we could lose and not make it. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed, and working hard and we will leave the rest to God.