24 Dec 2017
Kuwait, 24 December 2017. Aspire Academy graduate and Qatar national team striker, Akram Afif opened the scoring in a 4-0 Gulf Cup win over Yemen on Saturday 23rd December in Kuwait City. Defending Champions Qatar, kicked off their 2017 Gulf Cup campaign with a comprehensive display that saw Afif score the fastest goal of the tournament and a few minutes two other Aspire graduates, Al Mahdi Ali Mukhtar and Almoez Ali scored the second and third goals on a victorious night for Qatar.
Akram Afif was a constant threat to the Yemeni side with his speed and clever runs and the performance earned him the best player of the match award.
The current Qatar national team participating in the 23rd Gulf Cup is predominantly made of Aspire graduates. Qatar ‘s next match is against Iraq on Tuesday 26th December before winding up the group stage with a match against Bahrain on 29th December.