DOHA: Jordan head coach Hussein Ammouta has made a startling claim that Malaysia have the ability to beat his team despite the gulf in rankings between them.
World No 130 Malaysia are ranked 43 places below Jordan. The two teams clash in their Asian Cup Group E opener at the Al Janoub Stadium in Doha tomorrow.
Hussein said at a pre-match press conference yesterday that Harimau Malaya are a tough side.
He said: "We will not take Malaysia lightly."
Though there is a number of Jordanians playing in the M-League, Hussein said he does not think this will give his team a significant advantage over Malaysia.
"It (Jordan players in the M-League) is not a huge advantage because all the teams study their opponents. But we could still use it against Malaysia," said Ammouta
The four Jordanian internationals who have played in the M-League are Yazan Al Arab, Noor Al Rawabdeh, Mahmoud Al Mardi and Fadi Awad.
Jordan will start the Group E match as the favourites having beaten Malaysia 4-0 and 1-0 in two friendly matches in 2019 and 2021.