Qatar successfully defended their AFC Asian Cup title in the Lusail Stadium after securing a 3-1 victory against first-timers Jordan largely thanks to Akram Afif, who claimed a hat-trick of penalties.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe had lit up this spectacular stadium at the World Cup, and now it was Afif’s turn, with his goals in front of more than 86,000 fans crowning his outstanding tournament. Throughout the tournament, he had been Qatar's deadliest forward and the final was no different as he showcased his attacking talent by converting three spot-kicks — a tally that helped him earn the Golden Boot award for the tournament.
But despite being defending champion, this represented an unexpected triumph for a nation that endured a miserable World Cup on home soil in 2022 when exiting the tournament after three straight defeats in the group stage. Despite trailing by a single goal at halftime, Jordan – who were aiming to win the Asian Cup for the first time in their history, having stunned South Korea 2-0 in the semi-finals to reach their first ever final - showed their resilience and determination, with Yazan Al-Naimat's second-half strike injecting renewed hope into their efforts.
Houcine Ammouta's side fought to seize a lead but were thwarted by a penalty decision that favoured the hosts. Qatar, against the flow of the game, capitalised on the opportunity, with Afif calmly slotting home his second goal to snatch the lead. Afif then completed his hat-trick in added time, albeit amidst controversy surrounding a third penalty awarded to Qatar. Initial doubts over whether he had strayed offside were dispelled by the video assistant referee.
As the final whistle blew, Afif was hoisted into the air by his jubilant teammates as they celebrated back-to-back Asian Cup glory. Qatar won the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final. They defeated Jordan 3-1 in the showpiece match at Lusail Stadium thanks to Akram Afif's three penalty goals.
In a thrilling final match, Qatar emerged victorious with a 3-1 win against Jordan. Akram Afif’s remarkable performance included a hat trick of penalties, making him the tournament’s leading scorer with a total of eight goals. The heroics of Afif secured back-to-back titles for Qatar - nation after they won the tournament for the first time in 2019 - solidifying their position as champions once again.
