HE Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani congratulated Akram Afif, a player for the Qatari national football team and Al Sadd club, on winning the 2023 AFC Player of the Year award during the annual Asian Football Confederation awards ceremony held earlier today in Seoul, South Korea. In a statement today, the Minister of Sports and Youth praised the achievement of the Qatari national team star, noting that his award reflects the distinguished status that Qatari youth have achieved in the sports field. His Excellency added that this accomplishment is the result of Qatar's continuous support for the development and success of its youth, reaffirming the state's ongoing commitment to promoting the excellence of Qatari youth on the international sports stage. His Excellency also congratulated all members of the Qatar Football Association on receiving the AFC Asian Cup Host Appreciation Award, which the Qatari national team also won. HE the Minister valued the major successes o f the tournament, which showcased Qatar's exceptional organizational capabilities and resources. His Excellency emphasized that this recognition reflects the growing confidence that the AFC places in the Qatar Football Association and highlights the strong relationship and ongoing cooperation between the two sides, further enhancing Qatar's status as a regional and international sports hub. Akram Afif competed for the Player of the Year award against Jordanian national team striker Yazan Al Naimat and South Korean player Seol Young-woo. Afif became the 26th recipient of the award since its inception in 1994 and is the first Qatari player to win the award twice in his career, having first won it in 2019. He is also the third player in history to win the award more than once, following Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata in 1997 and 1998, and Uzbekistan's Server Djeparov in 2008 and 2011. Afif's achievement comes after leading the Qatari national team to win the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, defeating the Jordanian national tea m in the final with a score of 3-1. Source: Qatar News Agency