Doha: Last year's Asian Player of the Year, Qatari striker Akram Afif will continue to serve the defending QNB Stars League (QSL) champions Al Sadd until 2025, details revealed yesterday.
The Club yesterday announced the renewal of the contract of Afif, a driving force behind Qatar’s Asian Cup title victory last year. Afif is one of the most prominent stars of Al Sadd team and the 22-year-old played a key role in the team's success over the years.
Afif expressed happiness to sign the new deal and thanked the board of the club for their confidence in his abilities. Afif vowed to exert all his effort to help the team capture more local and continental titles.
Al Sadd's coach Xavi Hernandez who extended his stay with the Wolves for another season, had earlier said that Afif’s contract and securing replacements for Gabi and Marco Fabian are top of his list as Qatar's football is gearing up for restart after a long break.
Al Sadd are currently occupying the third spot in the QSL standings behind table toppers Al Duhail and Al Rayyan. Al Sadd will meet Al Khor at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium behind closed doors on July 24. Al Sadd underwent quarantine at the Ritz Carlton following the second round of COVID-19 tests which came back negative.
The protocols have been developed by the Qatar Stars League Management and approved by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH). Leaders Al Duhail face Umm Salal at the Education City Stadium on July 25.
Al Duhail, under Moroccan coach Walid Regragui, are leading the standings with 42 points, four more than secondplaced Al Rayyan. Al Duhail have regained the services of Qatar internationals Mohammed Al Bakri, Bassam Al Rawi , Mohammed Ayash, Sultan Al Breik, Assim Madibo, Karim Boudiaf, Abdullah Abdulsalam, Ismail Mohammed, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Mohammed Muntari and Almoez Ali following the end of senior national team’s training camp.
