Akram Afif


Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif is a Qatari professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd and the Qatar national team.
Afif was named the Asian Footballer of the Year on two occasions, the first in 2019, after being recognized for his instrumental role in Qatar’s successful 2019 Asian Cup campaign, and the second award coming in 2023.
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Club career

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.
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.
Afif also later joined Villarreal's youth team.

Eupen

In January 2015, Afif was signed by Belgian club Eupen. He scored a goal on his debut against Eendracht Aalst on 19 January 2015. In his next match against KRC Mechelen, he assisted three of his side's five goals.
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. On 4 August, he was loaned to fellow top tier club Sporting de GijΓ³n in a season-long deal.
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. After nine league matches, he returned to his first senior club Eupen on a one-year loan deal on 14 July 2017.

Al Sadd

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

International career

Afif featured in Qatar U20's AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign in 2014. 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.
He was called up to the senior squad in September 2015, by coach Daniel CarreΓ±o. He scored in Qatar's 15–0 win against Bhutan on 3 September 2015 during the 2018 [FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2018 World Cup Qualification rounds]. He also registered an assist in the match.
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.
On 3 January 2024, he was named in Qatar's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. In the team's opening match of the tournament, he scored twice as Qatar beat Lebanon 3–0 in Lusail. 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. 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, which qualified his country to the final for the second time in a row. 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.

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. After retiring, he managed Al-Gharafa from 1986 until 1987 and Al-Markhiya from 2001 until 2003 and 2006 until 2007.
His brother, Ali Afif, is a footballer who plays for QSL side Umm Salal.
Afif also learned Spanish for his move to Sevilla. In June 2015, he graduated from Aspire Academy.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.3 September 2015Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar10–015–02018 FIFA [World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification]
2.6 June 2017Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar2–02–2Friendly
3.13 June 2017Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar2–03–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.5 September 2017Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–01–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.23 December 2017Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait1–04–023rd Arabian Gulf Cup
6.21 March 2018Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq1–03–22018 International Friendship Championship
7.21 March 2018Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq2–13–22018 International Friendship Championship
8.24 March 2018Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq2–12–22018 International Friendship Championship
9.11 September 2018Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar2–03–0Friendly
10.12 October 2018Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–04–3Friendly
11.14 November 2018Stadio di Cornaredo, Lugano, Switzerland1–01–0Friendly
12.1 February 2019Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates3–13–12019 AFC Asian Cup final
13.15 October 2019Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar1–02–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
14.19 November 2019Central Republican Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan1–01–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
15.29 November 2019Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar6–06–024th Arabian Gulf Cup
16.2 December 2019Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–04–224th Arabian Gulf Cup
17.2 December 2019Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar2–04–224th Arabian Gulf Cup
18.4 December 2020Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar2–05–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
19.4 December 2020Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar5–05–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
20.13 July 2021BBVA Stadium, Houston, United States1–03–32021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
21.17 July 2021BBVA Stadium, Houston, United States2–04–02021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
22.3 December 2021Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–02–12021 FIFA Arab Cup
23.6 December 2021Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar2–03–02021 FIFA Arab Cup
24.26 March 2022Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–02–1Friendly
25.27 September 2022Franz Horr Stadium, Vienna, Austria1–12–2Friendly
26.13 October 2022Estadio Municipal de Marbella, Marbella, Spain1–02–1Friendly
27.5 January 2024Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–01–2Friendly
28.12 January 2024Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar1–03–02023 AFC Asian Cup
29.12 January 2024Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar3–03–02023 AFC Asian Cup
30.17 January 2024Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar1–01–02023 AFC Asian Cup
31.29 January 2024Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar2–12–12023 AFC Asian Cup
32.7 February 2024Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar2–13–22023 AFC Asian Cup
33.10 February 2024Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar1–03–12023 AFC Asian Cup final
34.10 February 2024Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar2–13–12023 AFC Asian Cup final
35.10 February 2024Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar3–13–12023 AFC Asian Cup final
36.21 March 2024Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–03–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
37.21 March 2024Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar3–03–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
38.10 September 2024New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos1–12–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification
39.21 December 2024Sulaibikhat Stadium, Sulaibikhat, Kuwait1–01–126th Arabian Gulf Cup
40.20 March 2025Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–05–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification
41.7 September 2025Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar1–31–4Friendly

Honours

Al Sadd
Qatar
Individual