Akram Afif
Afif playing for Al Sadd in 2020
Personal information
Full name Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif Al Yafei[1]
Date of birth (1996-03-11) 11 March 1996[2]
Place of birth Doha, Qatar
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
 Al Sadd
Number 51
Youth career
2004–2006 Al Markhiya
2006–2009 Al Sadd
2009–2014 Aspire Academy
2012–2014 → Sevilla (loan)
2014–2015 Al Sadd
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Eupen 26 (8)
2016–2020 Villarreal 0 (0)
2016–2017 → Sporting Gijón (loan) 9 (0)
2017–2018 → Eupen (loan) 15 (1)
2018–2020 → Al Sadd (loan) 48 (44)
2020–2023 Al Sadd 56 (43)
International career‡
2014 Qatar U19 5 (4)
2014–2015 Qatar U20 7 (1)
2015–2018 Qatar U23 12 (4)
2015– Qatar 104 (30)
Medal record
Representing  Qatar
Men's football
AFC Asian Cup
Winner2019 UAETeam
FIFA Arab Cup
Third place2021 QatarTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:00, 22 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 January 2024

Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif Al Yafei (Arabic: أكرم عفيف; born 11 March 1996) is a Qatari professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd and the Qatar national team.

Early in his career, he was considered to be one of the most promising players to emerge from Qatar.[4] Akram has been named in a three-man shortlist for the Asian Football Confederation’s men's player of the year for bringing the 2019 Asian Cup to Qatar.[5] He won the Asian Footballer of the Year award in 2019.[6]

Familial history

Afif was born in Doha to Somali-Yemeni father Hassan Afif from the Yafa tribe, and Afif’s mother is from Yemen. Afif's father was born in Tanzania and later moved to Somalia. His father was a top player for Horseed in Somalia and the Somalia national team,[7][8][9][10] before moving to Qatar and playing for Al Ittihad. He later became a Qatari citizen. After he retired from playing, he managed Al-Gharafa from 1986 till 1987 and Al-Markhiya from 2001 till 2003 and 2006 till 2007.[11][12]

Club career

Akram started off in the youth teams of Al-Markhiya and then Al Sadd before joining the Al Sadd 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.[13][14]

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.[15]

Afif later joined Villarreal's youth team.[16]

Eupen

In January 2015, Afif was signed by Belgian club Eupen.[17] He scored a goal in his debut against Eendracht Aalst on 19 January.[18] On 24 January in his next match against KRC Mechelen, he assisted in three of his side's five goals.[19]

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, it was confirmed that Afif would be rejoining Villarreal, this time on a permanent deal. In doing so, he became the first Qatari-born signing in La Liga history.[20] On 4 August, he was loaned to fellow top tier club Sporting de Gijón in a season-long deal.[21]

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.[22] After nine league matches, he returned to his first senior club Eupen on a one-year loan deal on 14 July 2017.[23] He went back to his home country in January 2018 to play for Al Sadd where he had a very successful season.

International career

Afif playing for Qatar in 2018

Afif featured in Qatar U20's AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign in 2014.[24] During the main tournament, he scored the lone goal in the final against DPR Korea to give Qatar the victory.[25]

He was called up to the senior national team in September 2015 by coach Daniel Carreño.[26] 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.[27]

During Qatar's successful 2019 AFC 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.[28]

On 3 January 2024, he was named in Qatar's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[29] In the team's opening match of the tournament, he scored twice as Qatar beat Lebanon 3–0 in Lusail.[30] 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.[31][32]

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 national team and spent a portion of his life in Somali 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.[33][34][35]

His brother, Ali Afif, is a footballer for QSL side Al-Duhail SC.

Afif learned Spanish for his move to Sevilla.[36]

In June 2015, he graduated from Aspire Academy.[37]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 January 2024[38]
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Eupen 2014–15 Belgian Second Division 92––––92
2015–16 Belgian Second Division 16610–––176
Total 25810–––268
Sporting Gijón (loan) 2016–17 La Liga 9020–––110
Eupen (loan) 2017–18 Belgian Pro League 15110–––161
Al Sadd 2017–18 Qatar Stars League 7321218[lower-alpha 3]000195
2018–19 Qatar Stars League 222632—9[lower-alpha 3]3—3431
2019–20 Qatar Stars League 191520238[lower-alpha 3]54[lower-alpha 4]03522
2020–21 Qatar Stars League 11542104[lower-alpha 3]2—209
2021–22 Qatar Stars League 181441—6[lower-alpha 3]1—2816
2022–23 Qatar Stars League 15104120–1[lower-alpha 5]02211
2023–24 Qatar Stars League 121400005[lower-alpha 3]04[lower-alpha 6]22116
Total 1048719774401192180111
Career total 1519523774401192230119

International

Scores and results list Qatar's goal tally first.[39]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.3 September 2015Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar Bhutan10–015–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.6 June 2017Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar North Korea2–02–2Friendly
3.13 June 2017Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar South Korea2–0[40]3–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.5 September 2017Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar China1–01–2
5.23 December 2017Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait Yemen1–04–023rd Arabian Gulf Cup
6.21 March 2018Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq Iraq1–03–22018 International Friendship Championship
7.2–1
8.24 March 2018Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq Syria2–12–2
9.11 September 2018Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar Palestine2–03–0Friendly
10.12 October 2018Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar Ecuador1–04–3
11.14 November 2018Stadio di Cornaredo, Lugano, Switzerland  Switzerland1–01–0
12.1 February 2019Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Japan3–13–12019 AFC Asian Cup final
13.15 October 2019Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar Oman1–02–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
14.19 November 2019Central Republican Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan Afghanistan1–01–0
15.29 November 2019Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar Yemen6–06–024th Arabian Gulf Cup
16.2 December 2019Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar United Arab Emirates1–04–2
17.2–0
18.4 December 2020Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar Bangladesh2–05–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
19.5–0
20.13 July 2021BBVA Stadium, Houston, United States Panama1–03–32021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
21.17 July 2021BBVA Stadium, Houston, United States Grenada2–04–0
22.3 December 2021Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar Oman1–02–12021 FIFA Arab Cup
23.6 December 2021Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar Iraq2–03–0
24.26 March 2022Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar Bulgaria1–02–1Friendly
25.27 September 2022Franz Horr Stadium, Vienna, Austria Chile1–12–2
26.13 October 2022Estadio Municipal de Marbella, Marbella, Spain Nicaragua1–02–1
27.5 January 2024Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar Jordan1–01–2
28.12 January 2024Lusail Stadium, Doha, Qatar Lebanon1–03–02023 AFC Asian Cup
29.3–0
30.17 January 2024Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar Tajikistan1–01–0

    Honours

    Afif in an Al Sadd line-up in 2018

    Al Sadd

    Qatar

    Individual

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ "Qatar Olympic squad set for European training camps". Qatar Football Association. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
    2. ↑ "AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 – Complete Squad Lists: Qatar". Asian Football Confederation. 2019. p. 18. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
    3. ↑ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: List of Players: Qatar" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
    4. ↑ "AFC U-16 Championship Preview: 5 players to look out for". goalnepal.com. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    5. ↑ "Soccer: Qatar's Afif named in AFC player of the year shortlist". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
    6. 1 2 "AFC Player of the Year 2019: Akram Afif". AFC. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
    7. ↑ "Xasan Cafiif oo Ka hadlay Guusha Wiilkiisa" (in Somali). Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
    8. ↑ "TAARIIKHDA CAFIIF" (in Somali). Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
    9. ↑ "J/Land:-"Kisima"-Xassan Cafiifi Yaxya-Waa Nin Sidee" (in Somali). 24 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
    10. ↑ "SOOYAALKA [ TAARIIKHDA ] HORYAALKA KUBADDA CAGTA SOOMAALIYA" (in Somali). Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    11. ↑ "Kooora Archive" (in Arabic). Kooora.com. 21 November 2001. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
    12. ↑ السد يهزم الاتفاق ويستعيد صدارة الدوري القطري (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. 8 February 2003. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
    13. ↑ "انضمام أكرم عفيف ومعاذ يحيى لأشبيلية الأسباني" (in Arabic). Al Kass. 24 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    14. ↑ "CHAMP magazine". Aspire. October 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
    15. ↑ "Qatar's Afif turns Sevilla's spearhead". dohastadiumplusqatar.com. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    16. ↑ "England U21s breeze past Qatar to start Toulon in style". The FA. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    17. ↑ "AFIF COMPLETES BELGIAN MOVE". qfa.com.qa. 10 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    18. ↑ "Eendracht Aalst vs AS Eupen match report". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. 19 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    19. ↑ Von Boris Cremer (24 January 2015). "Afif mit Pfiff, Curto mit Wumms" (in German). grenzecho.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    20. ↑ Mahali, Raj (8 May 2016). "Confirmed: Akram Afif becomes first Qatari signing in La Liga". Squawka. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
    21. ↑ "El Sporting firma al central Babin por tres años y logra la cesión del delantero del Villarreal Akran Afif" [Sporting sign stopper Babin for three years and get the loan of Villarreal forward Akran [sic] Afif] (in Spanish). La Nueva España. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
    22. ↑ "Dos goles en tres minutos dan los primeros puntos al Sporting" [Two goals in three minutes give the first points to Sporting] (in Spanish). Marca. 21 August 2016. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
    23. ↑ "Akram Afif, cedido al KAS Eupen" [Akram Afif, loaned to KAS Eupen] (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
    24. ↑ "India U19 v Qatar U19". the-afc.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    25. ↑ "QATAR CLAIM AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE WITH 1–0 WIN OVER DPR KOREA". the-afc.com. 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    26. ↑ "ضم أكرم عفيف لقائمة منتخبنا أمام بوتان .. واستبعاد سيبستيان ومشعل وإلياس وصديق" (in Arabic). 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    27. ↑ "LE QATAR EN MET 15 AU BHOUTAN! L'EUPENOIS AKRAM AFIF BUTEUR". lgfoot.be (in French). 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    28. ↑ "Soccer: Qatar's Afif named in AFC player of the year shortlist". Reuters. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
    29. ↑ "Our final list for Asia". Twitter. Qatar Football Association. 3 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
    30. ↑ "Group A: Qatar 3-0 Lebanon". Asian Football Confederation. 13 January 2024. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
    31. ↑ "Group A: Tajikistan 0-1 Qatar". Asian Football Confederation. 18 January 2024. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
    32. ↑ "Afif shines again as Qatar beat Tajikistan to move into Asian Cup knockouts". Reuters. 18 January 2024.
    33. ↑ "من أجل عيون "الغرافة يونايتد"..عفيف يروي قصة الهروب من الهورسيد عبر كلمنجارو إلى الدوحة (Interview with Hassan Afif)" (in Arabic). Kooora.com. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
    34. ↑ "Kooora Archive" (in Arabic). Kooora.com. 21 November 2001. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
    35. ↑ السد يهزم الاتفاق ويستعيد صدارة الدوري القطري (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. 8 February 2003. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
    36. ↑ "Champ Magazine". Aspire Academy. 2013. p. 27. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
    37. ↑ "ASPIRE ACADEMY CELEBRATES GRADUATING CLASS OF 2015". aspire.qa. 16 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
    38. ↑ Akram Afif at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
    39. ↑ "Afif, Akram Hassan". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
    40. ↑ On 13 June 2017, Mohammed Musa, in the match between Son Heung-min and Mohammed Musaball, in the final round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup AFC qualification in Qatar, South Korea, was replaced by Son Heung-min, Akram Afif puts the controversy in the serebulation of the salutary salute in the left arm of South Korea's Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) with the opening goal.
    41. ↑ @alsaddsc (19 February 2019). "جريدة استاد الدوحة تحتفي بـ "أكرم عفيف" نجم الزعيم كأفضل لاعب قطري للعام 2018 في الاستفتاء السنوي الذي تقيمه الجريدة" (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via Twitter.
    42. ↑
    43. ↑ "AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Technical Report and Statistics". AFC. 29 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
    44. ↑ "AFC MEN TEAM 2020". IFFHS. 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
    45. ↑ "Turner, Funes Mori named to Best XI". CONCACAF. 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
    46. ↑ "Golden reward for Brahimi, Mbohli and Jaziri". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 18 December 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
    47. ↑ "تعرف على التشكيلة المثالية لبطولة كأس العرب 2021". mala3eb.com (in Arabic). 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
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