Doha, 1 November 2023 - Saudi Arabian Salem Al Dawsari clinched the prestigious AFC Player of the Year Award at the glitzy ceremony, held at the Al Mayassa Theatre of the Qatar National Convention Centre.
Al Dawsari competed alongside Almoez Ali, the Qatari national team striker, and Australian Mathew Leckie Al Dawsari became the 25th different winner since the awards inception in 1994 as well as both the sixth Saudi player and fifth from Al Hilal to do so a record from any country and club respectively.
The AFC also awarded the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) a shield of appreciation for the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which was received by HE SC Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi.
The AFC's prestigious AFC Diamond of Asia award was conferred posthumously upon former AFC Vice-President and FIFA Council Member, the late Saoud Al Mohannadi of Qatar, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of Asian football at the AFC Annual Awards 2022 in Doha.
The AFC Diamond of Asia is the Confederation's highest accolade that acknowledges and honours exemplary individual endeavours towards the advancement of football in Asia.
The ceremony reviewed stages of the deceaseds career in a video that summarized the most prominent stages of work and the positions he held, and his exceptional and continuous dedication throughout his life to the advancement of the Asian game.
Australian icon Samantha Kerr have clinched the prestigious AFC Player of the Year Award, six years after her first triumph, during which she has become an established global superstar, Kerr collected her second AFC Womens Player of the Year accolade. The 30-year-old striker was at her prolific best for both country and club she supplanted Tim Cahill as the all-time leading scorer for Australia, men or women, and plundered 30 goals to lead Chelsea FC to a league and cup double in the 2022/23 season.
Claiming top honours in the coaching category, Japans Hajime Moriyasu, who orchestrated the Blue Samurais stunning comeback victories over former champions Germany and Spain to qualify for the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, received the mens AFC Coach of the Year award.
At the same time, Shui Qingxia, who ended China PRs 16-year wait for the AFC Womens Asian Cup trophy when she led the Steel Roses to victory in India in 2022, and in doing so became the first to win the coveted title both as a player and head coach, was presented with the AFC Coach of the Year award in the womens category.
Islamic Republic of Irans Moslem Oladghobad was confirmed as the AFC Futsal Player of the Year after guiding his nation to the Final of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Kuwait 2022, where he was named the tournaments Most Valuable Player.
In terms of awards for national federations, The Uzbekistan Football Association was named the AFC Member Association of the Year in the Platinum category, while the Lebanese Football Association took home the Diamond accolade; the Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited and Guam Football Association won in the Gold and Ruby categories respectively.
History was made by the Central Asian Football Association, who was named the AFC Regional Association of the Year the first time this accolade has been given out at the AFC Annual Awards.
Korea Republics Kim Min-jae has clinched the AFC Asian International Player of the Year prize, while Japans Maika Hamano was named the AFC Youth Player of the Year (Women), Kuryu Matsukis outstanding ascendancy in 2022 saw the Japanese ace claim the AFC Youth Player of the Year accolade.
The AFC awarded the Referees Special Award to; Chris Beath (AUS) Referee, Anton Shchetinin (AUS) - Assistant Referee, Ashley Beecham (AUS) - Assistant Referee, Ammar Aljneibi (UAE) - Support Video Assistant Referee.
