He qualified for the World Cup after defeating Cosmin Olăroiu and confessed that he asked supporters for objects on the field

Ashley Davis19/10/2025

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Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Sunday, October 19, 2025, 1:13 p.m. / Updated Sunday, October 19, 2025, 1:13 p.m.

Akram Afif (28 years old), the striker of the national team from Qatar, confessed that he provoked the supporters to throw objects on the field, in the decisive match for the qualification to the World Championship in 2026, won against the United Arab Emirates, selected by Cosmin Olăroiu (56 years old), score 2-1.

Afif made the decisive assist on both goals scored by the Qatari national team. Cosmin Olăroiu needed at least one draw to qualify directly for the World Championship.

Akram Afif admitted that he asked the fans to throw objects on the pitch

Al-Sadd's footballer admitted that towards the end of the match he asked the supporters to throw objects on the pitch to kill time.

“To kill time, of course. Honestly, I told them to throw it to kill time. But then I told them to stop, so that the referee would not give too many extra minutes. In the end, I wanted the 3 points“, said Akram Afif, according to SportStar.

The match was full of tension, and at one point a scandal broke out between the players and the supporters.

In order to reach the World Championship in 2026, Cosmin Olăroiu's national team will face the Iraqi national team in a double-leg, in the Asian play-off.

Afterwards, the UAE can qualify for the decisive play-off, which will take place in Mexico in March.