15 Nov 2018
Lugano, 14 November 2018. Aspire Academy graduate and Qatar national team striker, Akram Afifi scored an 86th-minute winner to give Qatar a 1-0 victory away to Switzerland on Wednesday evening 14th November 2018 in Lugano, Switzerland, as the world’s 96th-ranked side defeated the world number eight in a friendly.
Afif, who plays his club football for Al Sadd on loan from Villarreal, was put through on goal by Karim Boudiaf and rounded Switzerland goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo before lashing the ball into the net to earn Qatar a fourth win in five matches.This is Qatar’s first win over a European national team in their backyard since their win over Andorra in 2017. Qatar also beat Ecuador ranked 61st in the world 4-3 last month in Doha.
Switzerland — who reached the last 16 at the World Cup earlier this year included three men who play their club football in the English Premier League. Newcastle United defender Fabian Schär and Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka both started the game, with Liverpool attacker Xherdan Shaqiri introduced as a half-time substitute. Qatar national team boasting a number of Aspire graduates has won four of their five internationals this season, their only blip being a 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan, face Iceland next week. Qatar's World Cup debut will come when they host the tournament in 2022