His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth, congratulated Akram Afif, the Qatari national football team player and Al Sadd club member, on winning the 2023 Asian Player of the Year award at the annual Asian Football Confederation (AFC) awards ceremony held earlier today in Seoul, South Korea.

In a statement today, the Minister of Sports and Youth praised the accomplishment of the Qatari national team star, considering his award a reflection of the distinguished status that Qatari youth have achieved in sports. He added that this achievement is the fruit of Qatar’s ongoing support for the development and success of its youth, affirming the country’s commitment to continue supporting initiatives that enhance the standing and excellence of Qatari youth on the international sports stage.

His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani also congratulated all members of the Qatar Football Association on receiving the Host Nation Appreciation Award for the successful hosting of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, in which the Qatari national team emerged victorious. He commended the tournament’s great success, which reflected Qatar’s exceptional organizational capabilities and resources.

The Minister of Sports and Youth emphasized that this recognition reflects the growing trust the AFC places in the Qatar Football Association, embodying the strong relationship and ongoing cooperation between the two sides, which strengthens Qatar’s position as a regional and international sports hub.

Akram Afif competed for the title of Asia’s Best Player against Jordanian national team forward Yazan Al-Naimat and South Korean player Seol Young-woo. Afif became the 26th winner of the award since its inception in 1994 and is the first Qatari player to win the award twice, having first received it in 2019. He is also the third player to win the award multiple times, following Japanese player Hidetoshi Nakata (1997, 1998) and Uzbek player Server Djeparov (2008, 2011).

Afif’s award comes after leading the Qatari national team to victory in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, defeating the Jordanian team 3-1 in the final.