Doha, February 10 (QNA) - Akram Afif the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Most Valuable Player and also picked up the Yili Top Scorer Award on Saturday as his outstanding performances helped Qatar clinch the Continental title for the second consecutive time, stressed that winning the title is more important to him than winning personal titles.

"I would like to thank all Qataris. Congratulations to the coach and the fans. I can't really express what we feel but the coach worked really hard for us," said Afif, who also scored from the penalty spot in the 2019 final against Japan, which Qatar won 3-1.

"However, I want to tell the fans that there is more to come from us. I also would like to thank my teammates for having confidence in me to take the penalties. That gave me a lot of confidence for all three penalties. I think we deserved the win tonight." The Al Sadd SC star, who also played a prominent role in Qatar's triumphant campaign in 2019, opened his 2023 account by scoring twice in the 3-0 Group A win over Lebanon on Matchday One.

He then struck the winner in the 1-0 victory over Tajikistan, a result which confirmed Qatar's knockout stage spot with a match to spare. Afif was on target again in the Round of 16, scoring the winner as Qatar saw off a spirited challenge from Palestine.

The striker, who netted a hat-trick of penalties in the final, scored eight goals and made three assists in a campaign which saw him play a major part in the Maroons retaining the title they won in 2019, becoming one of only five teams to have managed such feat. (QNA)