22 Aug 2016
Gijon, 22 August 2016. Spanish football club Sporting Gijon opened their La Liga campaign with a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening. The game also marked a historical milestone for Qatar’s football, since Aspire Academy graduate Akram Afif made the first appearance of a Qatari in Spain’s highest division.
The 19-year-old forward, who joined Gijon on loan from Villarreal at the beginning of the 2016-17 season, made his first appearance as a substitute in the first round La Liga-match, replacing Burgui after 73 minutes.