Akram Afif Named AFC Player of the Year

Akram Afif of Qatar has been named the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year for 2023, marking his second time winning the award, previously achieved in 2019. He played a pivotal role in leading Qatar to its second consecutive AFC Asian Cup title earlier this year, where he was also the tournament's Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer, netting eight goals including a hat-trick in the final against Jordan. Afif, 27, expressed gratitude to his family and teammates during the award ceremony in Seoul and aims to create a lasting legacy for future generations. This accolade makes him the first Qatari player to win the award twice and only the third in history to achieve this distinction, following Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata and Uzbekistan's Server Djeparov. Afif also helped his club, Al Sadd, secure a domestic double, further showcasing his exceptional season. His aspirations extend beyond this recognition, as he seeks to make a significant impact in football for his country.