Akram Afif reclaims Asian Player of the Year, Seike takes women’s award at AFC Annual Awards 2024

Afif was presented with the trophy after his performances had been instrumental in Qatar’s successful defence of their Asian Cup title on home soil earlier in the year.

Published : Oct 29, 2024 19:03 IST , SEOUL - 2 MINS READ

Qatar’s Akram Afif, centre, poses for a photo with AFC President, Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, after receiving the player of the year award during the Asian Football Confederation or AFC Annual Award ceremony.
Qatar’s Akram Afif, centre, poses for a photo with AFC President, Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, after receiving the player of the year award during the Asian Football Confederation or AFC Annual Award ceremony. | Photo Credit: AP
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Qatar’s Akram Afif, centre, poses for a photo with AFC President, Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, after receiving the player of the year award during the Asian Football Confederation or AFC Annual Award ceremony. | Photo Credit: AP

Qatar’s Akram Afif was named the Asian Football Confederation’s Player of the Year for a second time with Kiko Seike from Japan securing the women’s title at the regional body’s annual awards ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday.

Afif, who had previously won the award in 2019, was presented with the trophy after his performances had been instrumental in Qatar’s successful defence of their Asian Cup title on home soil earlier in the year.

“I’m nervous like I’m about to take a penalty in the final,” Afif said as he accepted the award. “I thank my wife and all the national team members, coaches, administrators and medical team.

“I will try again to win this award for a third time.”

In February the 27-year-old Al-Sadd forward became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Asian Cup final and netted eight times throughout the tournament to secure the award ahead of Jordan’s Yazan Al-Naimat and South Korean Seol Young-woo.

Afif becomes only the third player to win the trophy more than once, following in the footsteps of Japan’s Hidetoshi Nakata, who won in 1997 and 1998, and Server Djeparov of Uzbekistan, winner in 2008 and 2011.

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Seike succeeded Australia’s Sam Kerr to win the women’s award ahead of Australia’s Cortnee Vine and Kim Hye-ri of South Korea and is the fifth Japanese player to claim the title after Homare Sawa, Saki Kumagai, Natsuko Hara and three-times winner Aya Miyama.

Kiko Seike of Japan shoot during the Women’s international friendly match between Japan and South Korea at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Kiko Seike of Japan shoot during the Women’s international friendly match between Japan and South Korea at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Kiko Seike of Japan shoot during the Women’s international friendly match between Japan and South Korea at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

The striker’s form was key to Urawa Red Diamonds’ title win in the Asian Women’s Club Championship in 2023 as well as helping her club secure a second consecutive Japanese domestic league title before signing for Brighton & Hove Albion in July.

“I’m very happy to receive this prestigious award.” said Seike via video message, who could not attend the ceremony due to ongoing commitments with the Japan national team.

“I will continue to do my best for my club, the national team and to raise the value of Asian football.”

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