Qatar team accomplished their goal of defending the runner-up title in a thrilling final against the Jordan team. The Lusail Stadium in Doha was the scene of an intense battle as the host team secured victory through star Afef’s penalty kick “hat trick,” earning a 3-1 win over Jordan. This marks the fifth time in history that the Asian Cup championship has been defended, and the seventh time a host team has claimed the title. Afef was awarded the “Golden Boot” with 8 goals and was named the tournament’s best player.
The achievement of the Qatar team is attributed to their unique advantage in terms of the right time, place, and people. However, it’s also due to the exceptional training provided by the “Asbair” academy, which produced elite players like Afef, Haydos, and Ali. This youth training model has allowed Qatar to transform from finishing last in the 2015 Asian Cup group to becoming champions and successfully defending the title.
Despite Jordan’s loss in the final, the team’s performance as a “dark horse” has been commendable. As the third team in the group stage, Jordan’s historic run to the Asian Cup final has been awe-inspiring. Their achievement is credited to the country’s unwavering commitment to youth training and development, evident in the outstanding performance of their national youth teams in previous Asian football events.
The success of both the champion and runner-up teams serves as an inspiration to Chinese football. Additionally, the Chinese referee team, including Ma Ning, Fu Ming, Zhou Fei, and Zhang Cheng, received recognition for their outstanding performance during the tournament, marking a significant moment for Chinese football referees. Ma Ning earned the honor of “Best Referee” in the tournament and was responsible for crucial decisions during the final, including awarding three penalty kicks to the Qatar team.
The 18th Asian Cup has showcased the significance of youth training and development in football, leading to remarkable achievements for both players and teams.