Akram Afif
LW
Half-Space Orchestrator
Nov 18, 1996 (29)
Right
5'10"
154 lb
Productive in Wednesday's loss
Afif recorded two shots (zero on goal), six crosses (two accurate) and three corners in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Analysis: Afif made his third consecutive start Wednesday, this time putting in his best performance. He led the team with six crosses and two chances created, also taking two shots in the second half to keep the pressure on Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was a solid outing for the forward as he looked like Qatar's most threatening attacker, especially in the second half. He finishes his World Cup without a goal contribution and with two shots, four chances created and 11 crosses across 239 minutes of action.
Subbed off on Thursday
Afif generated one cross (zero accurate) and one corner in Thursday's 6-0 defeat against Canada.
Analysis: Afif entered the match as Qatar's primary creative threat but was largely isolated by Canada's defensive structure and the numerical disadvantage that followed the red card. He finished without a shot or chance created, winning just one of four duels and failing to complete a dribble. Interestingly, one of his most notable contributions came defensively, recording a goal-line clearance that temporarily prevented further damage. He had to be subbed off for Al Hashmi Al Hussain Mohi Aldin following the red card.
Four crosses vs Switzerland
Afif generated four crosses (one accurate) and three corners in Saturday's 1-1 draw versus Switzerland.
Analysis: Afif produced four crosses, which included three crosses as well, but only one was accurate. The 29-year-old provided a couple of key on the day, most by any Qatar player. Afif finished with a pass success rate of 65.
Qatar's greatest offensive talent
Afif appears set to carry a significant part of Qatar's attacking responsibilities in the second World Cup of his career.
Analysis: Afif remains his national team's most influential player thanks to his unique playmaking skill, goal-scoring potential and set-piece involvement. The winger is expected to lead the team in terms of chance generation following his excellent performance in the World Cup qualification, as he ranked first among all AFC players with 11 assists in that stage. Additionally, he's able to threaten the opposing goal and rack up shooting numbers. His role extends beyond open play, as he shares responsibility for corners and free kicks. Afif is likely to see significant action and is the clear standout on the squad, however, given Qatar's underdog status in several matches, he'll need to be efficient to translate his value into fantasy production.
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