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Akram Afif

Qatari footballer (born 1996) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Akram Afif
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Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif (Arabic: أَكْرَم حَسَن عَفِيف يَحْيَى عَفِيف; born 18 November 1996) is a Qatari professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd and the Qatar national team.

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Afif was named the Asian Footballer of the Year on two occasions, the first in 2019,[4] after being recognized for his instrumental role in Qatar’s successful 2019 Asian Cup campaign,[5] and the second award coming in 2023.[6]

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Club career

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Youth career

Akram started off in the youth teams of Al-Markhiya and then Al Sadd before joining the Aspire Academy as a full-time student in 2009. During his time at Aspire, Afif traveled to Spain on an exchange student program and played for the youth teams of Sevilla and Villarreal.[7][8]

He represented Sevilla in the 2013 Al Kass International Cup, netting a brace and earning an assist in the team's first match, which ended as a 3–0 victory against Aspire Academy.[9]

Afif also later joined Villarreal's youth team.[10]

Eupen

In January 2015, Afif was signed by Belgian club Eupen.[11] He scored a goal on his debut against Eendracht Aalst on 19 January 2015.[12] In his next match against KRC Mechelen, he assisted three of his side's five goals.[13]

Afif finished his first senior season with two goals in nine matches. On 18 March 2016, he scored a brace in a 4–0 home win against KSV Roeselare.

Villarreal

On 8 May 2016, Afif rejoined Villarreal, this time on a permanent deal. In doing so, he became the first Qatari-born signing in La Liga history.[14] On 4 August, he was loaned to fellow top tier club Sporting de Gijón in a season-long deal.[15]

Afif made his debut in the main category of Spanish football on 21 August 2016, coming on as a substitute for Burgui in a 2–1 home win against Athletic Bilbao.[16] After nine league matches, he returned to his first senior club Eupen on a one-year loan deal on 14 July 2017.[17]

Al Sadd

In January 2018, Villarreal loaned Afif out to Al Sadd SC on a 1-year deal.[18] The deal was later extended by an additional season.[19] During his loan spell, he played in 22 league games and scored 26 goals and got 15 assists in the 2018–19 season, helping his team win the league. He was also awarded that season's Best Player Award by the Qatar Football Association (QFA).[20] In July 2020, Afif joined Al Sadd on a permanent basis after signing a 5-year deal.[21]

In the 2023–24 season, he played a key role in Al Sadd's successful league campaign, contributing 26 goals and 11 assists within 22 matches, thereby winning the top goal-scorer award and helping his team secure its 17th league title. His consistent performance also earned him a nomination for the Best Player Award by the QFA, which he won.[22]

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International career

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Afif playing for Qatar U23 in 2018

Afif featured in Qatar U20's AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign in 2014.[23] During the main tournament, he managed to score four goals, he also scored the lone goal in the final against DPR Korea to give Qatar the victory.[24]

He was called up to the senior squad in September 2015, by coach Daniel Carreño.[25] He scored in Qatar's 15–0 win against Bhutan on 3 September 2015 during the 2018 World Cup Qualification rounds. He also registered an assist in the match.[26]

During Qatar's 2019 Asian Cup campaign, Afif played a paramount role in helping his team lift the trophy, registering 10 assists overall, a new record in the tournament.[27]

On 3 January 2024, he was named in Qatar's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[28] In the team's opening match of the tournament, he scored twice as Qatar beat Lebanon 3–0 in Lusail.[29] He scored the only goal of Qatar's second Group A match, a 1–0 win over Tajikistan, to put them through to the knockout stage.[30][31] In the round of 16, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Palestine.[32] In the semi-final match against Iran, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 3–2 victory, which qualified his country to the final for the second time in a row.[33] Afif went on to score a hat-trick of penalties in the final which Qatar won 3–1 against Jordan, in addition, he managed to finish the tournament as the top goal-scorer with eight goals.[34]

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Personal life

Afif is of Yemeni Arab heritage. He was born in Doha, Qatar. His mother, Fayza, is of Yemeni descent from the Yafa tribe and is a homemaker. His father, Hassan Afif, is of Yemeni descent however, he played for the Somalia national team and spent a portion of his life in Somalia and was born in Moshi in Tanzania. His father previously played for Simba in Tanzania but later moved to Somalia where he went on to play for Horseed FC. He subsequently moved to Qatar and played for Al Ittihad (later renamed Al Gharafa). After retiring, he managed Al-Gharafa from 1986 until 1987 and Al-Markhiya from 2001 until 2003 and 2006 until 2007.[35][36][37]

His brother, Ali Afif, is a footballer who plays for QSL side Umm Salal.

Afif also learned Spanish for his move to Sevilla.[38] In June 2015, he graduated from Aspire Academy.[39]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 January 2025[40]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. [a]
    Includes Belgian Cup, Copa del Rey, Emir of Qatar Cup
  2. [b]
    Includes Qatar Crown Prince Cup/Qatar Cup
  3. [c]
    Appearances in AFC Champions League
  4. [d]
    One appearance in Sheikh Jassim Cup, three appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  5. [e]
    Appearance in Qatari Stars Cup
  6. [f]
    Appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup

International

As of match played 14 October 2025[41][42]
More information National team, Year ...
Scores and results list Qatar's goal tally first.[41]
More information No., Date ...
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Honours

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Afif in an Al Sadd line-up in 2018

Al Sadd

Qatar

Individual

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See also

References

External links

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