The final for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup is set as hosts Qatar will face Jordan at the Lusail Stadium this Saturday. It is safe to say that Qatar has to be considered explicit favourites to win, mainly due to their 100% win record across the tournament, including the group stage and their home-field advantage; it is not a certainty as they will be looking over their shoulders at Jordan who dismantled South Korea 2-0 to reach the final and will have to be on top form to avoid an upset and retain the trophy.
Tournament Form
Qatar began the tournament on the right foot, with a 3-0 demolition of Lebanon, which included a brace from star winger Akram Afif, who would also become clutch in their second group game against Tajikistan, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win that sent them to the top of the group and secured a place in the knockout stages and to finish off the group stages Qatar would win 1-0 against China sealing their position at the top of the group and being one of only three with a perfect record going into the knockout stages.
Qatar would face Palestine in the round of 16 in a close encounter; however, Akram Afif would become the hero once again with a 49th-minute penalty that sealed a 2-1 win for Qatar, who then would face Uzbekistan, who would provide the biggest potential stumbling block so far levelling the game in the second half and forcing penalties, which Qatar would eventually win 3-2.
The hosts would then go on to face fellow tournament titans Iran, another team like Qatar that had managed to have a 100% win record so far at the tournament, and this semi-final certainly didn't disappoint despite going 1-0 behind early on the game became very back and forth with many fiery moments between the two sides with the game finally ending 3-2 with the winner coming in the 82nd minute from Ali Almoez to send Qatar to the final to face Jordan in Lusail.
Who Has Been Key To Qatar's Success?
One player that has been key to this impressive run so far is Akrim Afif, with his brilliant footwork he has been a nuisance to opposing defences privding many oppurtunites to score having contributed to 6 of Qatar's goals in the torunament including the first penalty of the shootout against Uzbekistan in the Quarter Final, not only has he been a goal scoring threat his playmaking ability has also helped created many chances to setup other teamates for goal scoring oppouttunites.
Another player that has been vital for Qatar is their goalkeeper Meshaal Basham who had three cleansheets across their group games, as well as providing some crucial saves so far, with the most coming from their penalty shootout saving three of Uzbekistans attempts ensuring his country would advance to the next round and will need to cntinue his reliability having only conceded six goals so far.
Can The Hosts Retain The Title?
It has been just over a year since Qatar exited its own World Cup in the group stage, and without a single point, they are one win away from back-to-back Asian Cup finals and the chance to retain the Asian Cup.
The Maroons played three-time champion Iran in the semifinals on Wednesday at Al Thumama Stadium.
"Despite doubts from some quarters about Qatar's chances of reaching the final, our team is filled with confidence and excitement, fueled by positive energy," Qatar defender Tarek Salman says.
The tournament hosts have good reason to be optimistic, as forward Akram Afif is one of the players of the tournament.
At the same time, the team has been driven by emotional support from fans whose passion has been a constant throughout the tournament but has been stained partly by the disappointment of their last tournament, which was an unfortunate exit at the World Cup on home soil, this time round they will be determined to right a wrong and win a tournament to appease their fans and send the country into raptures.
However it certainly won't be that easy as their opponents Jordan are nto to be overlooked espcially given their latest result upsetting what seemed to be clear favourites Sotuh Korea with a 2-0 win, so whislt Qatar are favoruites to win to the tournament and will have their fans behind them, their is a chance that Jordan could be set for torunament upset and this Saturday should be set up to be a thrilling conclusion to what has been a great tournament.
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