Captain Afif scores brace as Qatar thump Kuwait to stay perfect in joint qualifiers

Doha, Qatar:Akram Afif celebrated his promotion as Qatar captain by scoring a brace as the reigning double Asian champions blanked Kuwait 3 0 at FIFA...

Doha, Qatar: Akram Afif celebrated his promotion as Qatar captain by scoring a brace as the reigning double Asian champions blanked Kuwait 3-0 at FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 joint qualifiers last night.

Replacing retired Hassan Al Haydos as skipper, Afif scored the opener in 47th minute and netted his second goal in 68th minute as Qatar overcame a sluggish first half to secure their third straight win in the second qualifying round at Al Sadd’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Young Al Rayyan forward Ahmed Al Rawi, sent in by head coach Marquez Lopez in the second half, scored the other goal in 51st minute as Qatar consolidated their top spot in Group A with nine points.

Al Annabi, who defeated Afghanistan and India in their first two group matches in November, will advance to the next stage of World Cup qualifiers if they beat Rui Bento-coached Kuwait in a reverse fixture on March 26.