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.

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. The tension was high.

"Maybe it was not beautiful football, but everyone remembers the winner and I'm proud of my players and their achievements.”

Qatar became only the fifth team to successfully defend the Asian Cup, a feat made all the more impressive given the uncertainty that surrounded the holders coming into the tournament.

Carlos Queiroz, installed to turn around a team that disappointed hugely at the 2022 World Cup on home soil, departed in December, with Lopez then parachuted in from Qatar Stars League club Al Wakrah.

As the Spaniard attempted to quickly implement his tactics and philosophy, the Asian champions lost in a friendly, ironically to Jordan, on the eve of the tournament.

“I have been working in Qatar and I know the players well,” a visibly drained Lopez said on Saturday night. “It was easy to work with them and they effectively implemented our ideas on the pitch.

"In some matches we didn't deliver our best, but in others we were better