Akram Afif: Qatar's Asian Cup hero says he would 'love' to play in Europe

11.02.2024 - 15:46 thenationalnews.com

Akram Afif lit up the Asian Cup final on Saturday, converting a hat-trick of penalties against Jordan to secure back-to-back continental titles for Qatar.

The playmaker is well known to football fans in Asia and has only enhanced his reputation with his performances in Qatar where he finished as top scorer with eight goals.

Afif's star showing on home soil is only likely to reignite talk of a move to Europe, where the 27-year-old previously plied his trade, in Belgium and Spain, with modest success.

Afif netted three penalties in the 3-1 victory over Jordan, and he bagged a treble of individual awards: player of the match, most valuable player of the tournament, and top scorer.

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Qatar's Asian Cup-winning coach Marquez Lopez has been handed a contract until 2026 and will take charge of the team in a full-time capacity, the Qatar Football Association has announced.

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Qatar retain Asian Cup thanks to Afif's penalty hat-trick

LUSAIL, Qatar: Qatar successfully defended their Asian Cup crown after beating Jordan 3-1 on Saturday (Feb 10) at Lusail Stadium where Akram Afif converted three penalties as the hosts won their second continental title.Jordan was playing in their first Asian Cup final and seeking their first major trophy, but it was Qatar who prevailed in front of 86,492 fans including Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Yazan Al-Naimat had briefly given Jordan hope when he netted an equaliser in the second half but their dreams were shattered when they conceded two more penalties, put away by Afif who finished as the tournament's top scorer with eight goals. Afif, who was thrown into the air repeatedly by his teammates after the final whistle, also picked up the award for player of the match and most valuable player of the tournament.

Jordan v Qatar: Akram Afif's hat-trick of penalties fires hosts to Asian Cup glory

Akram Afif swept home a hat-trick of penalties, the tournament’s standout performer delivering on the grandest of stages, and Qatar were back-to-back Asian champions.

Lopez congratulates players as Qatar retain Asian Cup title but unsure on future

Qatar manager "Tintin" Marquez Lopez praised his players’ mettle after they defeated Jordan in the Asian Cup final on Saturday night to become back-to-back winners.