At the recent Expo Stars League (ESL) champions Al Sadd party, Akram Afif proudly held the Falcon Shield after his team’s victory. The talented player is now in the running for the prestigious Best Player accolade at the upcoming Qatar Football Association (QFA) Awards. Afif’s nomination was well-deserved, considering his outstanding performance in the 2023-2024 season where he emerged as the top scorer with 26 goals and 11 assists. His contribution played a pivotal role in Al Sadd’s title triumph in the top flight.
Joining Afif in the list of nominees for the Best Player award are Al Gharafa captain Yacine Brahimi and Al Rayyan forward Roger Guedes. Brahimi’s leadership skills and scoring prowess helped the Cheetahs secure a third-place finish in the ESL, with 22 goals and nine assists to his name. Guedes, on the other hand, made an immediate impact on his new team, Al Rayyan, scoring 19 goals and providing five assists as they finished as runners-up in the ESL.
The battle for the Best Coach Award is also heating up, with ESL winner Wesam Rizk being nominated alongside Leonardo Jardim of Al Rayyan and Pedro Martins of Al Gharafa. Rizk took over as the coach of Al Sadd midway through the season and led them to victory in 15 ESL games. Jardim, who guided Al Rayyan to a second-place finish, is expected to be a strong contender for the award, facing stiff competition from Martins, whose coaching led the Cheetahs to an impressive performance in the recent season.
In addition to the Best Player and Best Coach awards, the Best Under-23 Player Award is also up for grabs. The nominees for this category include Mostafa Meshal from Al Sadd, Jassim Jaber from Al Arabi, and Mahdi Salem from Al Shamal. These young talents have showcased their skills and potential throughout the season, making them deserving candidates for this prestigious title.
The QFA Awards ceremony is set to take place at the Qatar National Convention Center on Sunday, May 26, where the winners in each category will be announced. The nominees, including Afif, Brahimi, Guedes, Rizk, Jardim, Martins, Meshal, Jaber, and Salem, are all eagerly awaiting the results, hoping to walk away with the coveted titles. With their exceptional performances and contributions to their respective teams, each nominee has shown why they deserve to be recognized as the best in their field in the 2023-2024 season.
