Biography of Akram Afif, the best player of the Qatar national team
Akram AfifSummary of Akram Afif's biography
Full name: Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif Elafi
Date of birth: November 18, 1996
Place of birth: Doha, Qatar
Profession: footballer
Position: Winger
Current club: Al Sadd Qatar
Height: 1 meter 76 cm
Biography of Akram AfifBiography of Akram Afif
Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif was born on November 18, 1996 in Doha, Qatar. He is among the successful footballers and stars of this country, who showed a great performance in the 2023 Asian Cup match between Qatar and Iran.
Akram Afif is known as one of the most promising players of this country in his early career. Akram has been selected in the three-man list of the best male player of the Asian Football Confederation to bring the 2019 Asian Cup to Qatar. In 2019, he won the award for the best player of the year in Asia.
Akram Afif Hassan Afif's father is from the Jaffa tribe and his mother is of Yemeni origin. After he retired from football, he managed Al-Gharafa between 1986 and 1987, and Al-Markhiya between 2001 and 2003 and 2006 to 2007.
Akram Afif's photosAkram Afif's club career
Akram Afif started his professional career in the youth teams of Al-Murkhiya and then Al-Sad, then he went to Al-Sad as a full-time student in 2009.
Akram Afif participated in the Al Kas International Cup in 2013 as the first game of this team as a goal scorer and was able to give an assist as well. The game ended with a score of 3-0 in favor of Spire Academy.
Akram Afif signed a contract with Belgian club Eupen in January 2015 and scored a goal in his first game on January 19, 2015 against Eintracht Aalst. In his next game against KRC Mechelen on January 24, he assisted on three of his team's five goals.
Akram Afif clubsAfif finished his first senior season with two goals in nine games. On 18 March 2016, he scored a goal in a 4–0 home win against KSV Roeselare.
On May 8, 2016, Akram Afif went to Villarreal once again and was added to this team with a permanent contract. This purchase is considered as the first purchase of Qatar in the history of La Liga.
On August 4 of this year, Akram Afif was loaned to Sporting de Gijon on a one-year contract.
Akram Afif made his debut in the first division of Spanish football on August 21, 2016, and came on as a substitute for Burgoy in a 1-2 home win against Athletic Bilbao.
After nine games in the league, he returned to his first senior club Open on a one-year loan deal on July 14, 2017. He returned to his country in January 2018 to play for Al Sadd, where he had a very successful season.
Akram Afif's gamesAkram Afif in international career
Akram Afif played for Qatar under-23 team in 2018. Afif participated in the Asian Under-19 Championship in Qatar under-20 in 2014. And during the main tournament, he scored the only goal in the final against South Korea to lead Qatar to victory.
He was called up to the senior national team by coach Daniel Carneau in September 2015, he scored in Qatar's 15–0 win over Bhutan on 3 September 2015 in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. He also recorded an assist in this match.
During Qatar's successful campaign in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Afif played an important role in helping his team win the cup, registering a total of 10 assists, a new record in the tournament.
On 3 January 2024, he was selected in Qatar's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, in the team's opening match of the tournament, he scored twice as Qatar defeated Lebanon 3–0 in Lusail.
He scored the only goal in Qatar's second game in Group A, a 1–0 win over Tajikistan, to send them through to the knockout stage. In the Round of 16, he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Palestine.
In the semi-final match against Iran, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 3–2 victory that sent his country to the final for the second time in a row.
In the final, when Qatar won 3-1 against Jordan, Afif scored a hat trick in the penalty shootout. In addition, he managed to finish the tournament as the top scorer with eight goals.
Akram Afif in the international arenaAkram Afif's personal life
Akram Afif is one of Yemeni Arab heritage who was born in Doha, his mother Faiza is one of the descendants of Jaffa tribe and a housewife. He played for the national team and has lived part of his life in Somalia.
Akram Afif's personal lifeHis father used to play for Simba in Tanzania but later moved to Somalia where he played for Horseed FC. He subsequently moved to Qatar and played for Al Ittihad (later renamed Al Gharafa). After his retirement, he managed Gharafa from 1986 to 1987 and from 2001 to 2003 and from 2006 to 2007.
His brother, Ali Afif, is a QSL player for M Salal SC. Afif learned Spanish to transfer to Sevilla. Graduated from Aspire Academy in June 2015.
compilation: Cover biographical section
