Akram Afif


Akram Hassan Afif Yahya Afif is a Qatari professional footballer who plays as a forward for Qatari club Al Sadd, and the Qatar national team.
He is considered to be one of the most promising players to emerge from Qatar.
Afif 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.

Club career

Youth career

Born in Doha, Qatar, Afif started off in the youth teams of Al-Markiya 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 later joined Villarreal's youth team.

Eupen

In January 2015, Afif was signed by Eupen. He scored a goal in his debut against Eendracht Aalst on 19 January. On 24 January in his next match against KRC Mechelen, he assisted in 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 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. On 4 August, he was loaned to fellow top tier club Sporting de Gijón 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.
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 featured in Qatar U20's AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign in 2014. During the main tournament, he scored the lone goal in the final against DPR Korea to give Qatar the victory.
He was called up to the senior national team in September 2015 by coach Daniel Carreño. 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.
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.

Personal life

Afif was born in Doha, Qatar. He has a brother, Ali Afif, who is a footballer for QSL side Lekhwiya. His father, Hassan Afif, is of Somali descent 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. 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 mother, Fayza, comes from Yemen.
Afif learned Spanish for his move to Sevilla. In June 2015, he graduated from Aspire Academy.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.3 September 2015Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar10–015–02018 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

Honours

Al Sadd
International
Individual