Akram Afif facts for kids
![]() Afif playing for Qatar in 2024
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 18 November 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Doha, Qatar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.76 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing position | Left winger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current club | Al Sadd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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– | Al Sadd | 79 | (63) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Qatar U19 | 5 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2015 | Qatar U20 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2015–2018 | Qatar U23 | 12 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2015– | Qatar | 121 | (39) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
Akram Afif is a talented Qatari footballer born on November 18, 1996. He plays as a left winger for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd and is a key player for the Qatar national team.
Many people consider Akram Afif to be one of Qatar's most promising football stars. He has won the prestigious Asian Footballer of the Year award twice. The first time was in 2019, after he played a huge part in Qatar winning the 2019 Asian Cup. He won the award again in 2023.
Contents
Akram Afif's Family Background
Akram Afif was born in Doha, Qatar. His father, Hassan Afif, is from Tanzania and Somalia. His mother is from Yemen.
Akram's father was also a footballer. After he stopped playing, he became a manager for football clubs. He managed Al-Gharafa and Al-Markhiya for several years. Akram's brother, Ali Afif, is also a professional footballer.
Akram Afif's Club Journey
Starting in Youth Football
Akram Afif began his football journey in the youth teams of Al-Markhiya and then Al Sadd. In 2009, he joined the Aspire Academy. This academy helps young athletes develop their skills.
While at Aspire, Akram went to Spain as an exchange student. He played for the youth teams of famous Spanish clubs like Sevilla and Villarreal. He even scored two goals in a youth tournament for Sevilla.
Playing in Belgium with Eupen
In January 2015, Akram joined the Belgian club Eupen. He scored a goal in his very first game on January 19. In his next match, he helped his team score three goals by providing assists.
He finished his first season with two goals in nine games. In March 2016, he scored two goals in one match, helping Eupen win 4–0.
Time in Spain with Villarreal
On May 8, 2016, Akram Afif officially joined Villarreal. This made him the first Qatari-born player to sign with a club in La Liga, Spain's top football league.
Later, he was loaned to another Spanish club, Sporting de Gijón, for a season. He made his debut in La Liga in August 2016. After playing nine league matches, he returned to Eupen on loan in July 2017.
Becoming a Star at Al Sadd
In January 2018, Villarreal loaned Akram Afif to Al Sadd SC in Qatar. This loan was later extended. During his time on loan, he played incredibly well. In the 2018–19 season, he scored 26 goals and made 15 assists in 22 league games. His amazing performance helped Al Sadd win the league title.
He also won the Best Player Award from the Qatar Football Association (QFA) that season. In July 2020, Akram officially joined Al Sadd permanently, signing a five-year contract.
In the 2023–24 season, he was a key player again. He scored 26 goals and provided 11 assists in 22 matches. This made him the top goalscorer and helped Al Sadd win their 17th league title. He also won the QFA's Best Player Award again.
Akram Afif's International Career
Akram Afif played for Qatar's youth national teams. In 2014, he helped the Qatar U19 team win the AFC U-19 Championship. He scored the only goal in the final match against DPR Korea.
He was called up to the senior national team in September 2015. He scored his first goal for the senior team in a huge 15–0 win against Bhutan. He also made an assist in that game.
Akram played a huge role in Qatar's amazing 2019 AFC Asian Cup victory. He set a new tournament record by providing 10 assists, helping his team lift the trophy.
In January 2024, he was part of Qatar's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He scored two goals in the opening match against Lebanon. He also scored the winning goal against Tajikistan, which helped Qatar reach the knockout stage.
In the knockout rounds, he scored the winning goal against Palestine. In the semi-final against Iran, he scored a goal and made an assist, helping Qatar reach the final for the second time in a row. In the final against Jordan, Akram scored three goals from penalties, leading Qatar to a 3–1 victory. He finished the tournament as the top scorer with eight goals.
Akram Afif's Honours and Awards
Akram Afif has won many awards and trophies throughout his career:
With Al Sadd
- Qatar Stars League: 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24
- Emir Cup: 2020, 2021, 2024
- Qatar Cup: 2020, 2021
- Sheikh Jassim Cup: 2019
- Qatari Stars Cup: 2019–20
With Qatar National Team
- AFC Asian Cup: 2019, 2023
Individual Awards
- WAFF U-23 Championship Top goalscorer: 2015
- Qatar Stars League Top goalscorer: 2019–20, 2023–24
- Qatar Stars League Top assists provider: 2018–19, 2019–20
- Qatar Stars League Player of the Year: 2018–19, 2019–20
- AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019, 2023
- AFC Player of the Year: 2019, 2023
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2021
- AFC Asian Cup Golden Boot: 2023
- AFC Asian Cup Best Player: 2023
See Also
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps