It was an unforgettable day for Qatar striker Akram Afif. The striker scored twice to lead Qatar to a 4-2 win over the UAE and qualify for the Gulf Cup semi-finals, a few hours after winning the Asian Player of the Year award.
Afif thanked the fans who filled the stands of Khalifa International Stadium and urged them to continue to support the Qatari team, which recovered from losing to Iraq in the opening game to defeat Yemen and the UAE, scoring ten goals in both games, and hit a date with Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals on Thursday.
"I like to thank the crowd for their stand today," said 23-year-old Afif. "I think today's game was more important than the prize. Attendance is the happiest thing today. I was delighted to see their encouragement and support for us for 90 minutes. As players we always aspire to attend. What they support us appreciate is that we can give more in the 70th or 80th minute when the player feels exhausted. "
Afif plays a major role with Qatar, who have already played more than 50 caps, and contributed to their first Asian Cup win this year, before their 2022 World Cup hosts took the gold to the Gulf Cup.
Afif is one of the region's most emerging talent and one of the Aspire Academy graduates who have been prepared for years to form a team that can compete at the highest level when it comes to hosting the 2022 World Cup.
Afif played for Al Sadd's youth before moving to Europe with Belgian Open and from Villarreal. Afif has not played for Villarreal's first team, who loaned him to Sporting Gijon, Aubin and finally Al Sadd, who have been in the squad since 2018 and led them to the semi-finals of this year's AFC Champions League.
Former Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez, who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain, expects a lot of chaste.
Chavez coaches Afif at the dam and believes the young striker can build on his strong start to his career as a professional. "With his talent, he has big ambitions. He is still young and I think he can do a lot in his career."
Afif is one of a string of players who have shined with Qatar recently and have become the second consecutive player from Al Sadd to win the Asian Player of the Year award after Abdul Karim Hassan.
"I think they are doing well. They have a very good team and a very good coach. They are very well organized on the pitch. They have a very good generation of young players, not only," he said. "Akram - one of their best - but they also have goats Ali and Boualem Bouali. I think they work well and they can compete in 2022 for sure."