Nizar al rashdan

Though Yazan Al Naimat: Akram Afif scored a hat-trick of penalties as hosts Qatar won their second consecutive AFC Asian Cup 2023 title after defeating Jordan 3-1 in the final at a packed Lusail Stadium on Saturday. Though Yazan Al Naimat’s equaliser gave first-time finalists Jordan a flicker of hope, Afif’s coolness and Qatar’s overall superiority saw them comfortably defending the title they won emphatically in 2019.

Afif’s hat-trick, the first of the tournament, took his tally to eight goals as he won the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Yili Top Scorer Award.

Ahead of the kick-off, Iraq legend and former captain Younis Mahmoud unveiled the AFC Asian Cup trophy in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium, warming the fans up nicely for the final.