Qatar's Akram Afif Nominated for Second Asian Player of the Year Award

Qatar's Akram Afif is a nominee for a second Asian Player of the Year award, alongside Jordan's Yazan Al-Naimat and South Korea's Seol Young-woo. The winners, including female nominees, will be announced in Seoul on Oct. 29. Australia's Graham Arnold and other leading figures also received nominations in coaching categories.

Qatar's Asian Cup-winning captain Akram Afif has been nominated for a second Asian Player of the Year award, joining Jordan's Yazan Al-Naimat and Seol Young-woo of South Korea on the Asian Football Confederation's three-man shortlist.

For the women's title, Australia's Cortnee Vine, Japan's Kiko Seike, and South Korea's Kim Hye-ri have been nominated. The winners will be announced in Seoul on Oct. 29.

Afif, who previously won in 2019, is the favorite to reclaim the trophy after leading Qatar to their second consecutive continental title by defeating Jordan in the Asian Cup final. Recently departed Australia coach Graham Arnold has been nominated for the men's coach of the year award, alongside Japan's Go Oiwa and South Korea's Hwang Sun-hong. Arnold left his role last month, replaced by Tony Popovic, after disappointing results in Asia's World Cup qualifiers. Japan's Tomoki Miyamoto, South Korea's Park Yeon-jeong, and Australia's Leah Blayney are in contention for the women's coach award.

(With inputs from agencies.)