Al Duhail's Ali Afif celebrates with a team-mate in this file photo.
Al Duhail star Ali Afif is ready to make his second appearance at the FIFA Club World in exactly a week, but with a different team this time. The former Al Sadd player who made his first appearance in the premier club competition a decade ago, told FIFA.com that believes this time Al Duhail can do what his previous team couldn't. “I’m delighted to be one of the few Qatari players to play in the Club World Cup twice, which is not something many players can say,” Afif told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “It’s always pleasing to equal records but we’ve got the ability to reach the final and go one step further than Al Sadd did in 2011. We need a bit of luck to do that.
And when it comes to knockout matches you also need to use your head sometimes,” Afif, brother of Al Sadd star Akram, added. Afif, aged 23 then, played an important role for Al Sadd who won the AFC Champions League title which helped them book the ticket for FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2011.
Though he missed Al Sadd’s 2-1 win over ES de Tunis and a 4-0 semi-final defeat to Barcelona – Afif came on for the last 18 minutes of the match for third place against host team Kashiwa Reysol, a game Al Sadd won 5-3 on penalties. A month after his maiden FIFA Club World Cup appearance, Afif joined Lekhwiya Club, which later became Al Duhail SC. Since then, he has been playing a key role in his team's success, helping the club to win six QNB Stars League title. Al Duhail's latest title win came last season which e v e n t u a l l y earned them a place at the FIFA Club World Cup Q a t a r 2020.
Al Duhail received a bye into the second round of Qatar 2020 when their firstround opponents Auckland City, pulled out due to the nation’s coronavirus restrictions. Afif and Al Duhail will now face the reigning African champions Al Ahly. Afif told FIFA.com that Al Ahly is one of the biggest sides in Africa, but Al Duhail will set their eyes beyond the February 4 clash which will take place at the Education City Stadium. "They were named the continent’s club of the 20th century. We’ll see what happens against the African champions but it’s 11 versus 11,” he added.
“If we beat Al Ahly, we’ll then play Bayern Munich, but we have to face the African champions first. We have to prepare and focus on how to play them because they’re a great side too,” Afif said. Afif was part of the Qatar team that won the country’s first ever AFC Asian Cup title in 2019 and now his aim is to use his experience and help his young Al Duhail teammates make history. “I’d like to thank Al Sadd, Al Duhail and the Qatar Football Association for showing faith in me and my football career. I’ll use all my experience for the good of the team. It makes me really happy that the players are proud of me and proud of having me by their side at Al Duhail,” Afif said.
