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.
The hosts prevailed 3-1 at Lusail Stadium against the first-time finalists, with star player Akram Afif netting a hat-trick of penalties.
Yazan Al Naimat had equalised for Jordan just after the hour. The victory lifts Qatar, who won their first continental crown at the 2019 tournament in the UAE, alongside South Korea with two titles.
Only Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran have more. Japan were the last side to retain the trophy, in 2004. “I’m extremely happy and I congratulate the Qatari people and the players,” said Lopez, who was appointed weeks before the tournament. “We are so happy that we won the match.