DOHA: Qatar national team defender Abdulkraim Hassan has been nominated for the prestigious 2018 AFC-Player-of-the-Year award, it has been confirmed.
The AFC Player-of-the-Year awards ceremony will be held on November 28 in Muscat, Oman, AFC said earlier this month.
Hassan will compete against Japan’s Yamama Suzuki and Iran’s Ali Reza for the top honours.
The last Qatari player to win the award was striker Khalfan Ibrahim who bagged the prestigious Asian trophy in 2002.
Hassan, an integral part of Qatar football plans, has been seen in top form and fitness in the last few years.
He has rarely missed a Qatar international home or away.
The 25-year-old, who plays for QNB Stars League giants Al Sadd, was the captain of the national side that finished fourth in the AFC U-23 Championship held in Qatar.
He is currently with the national side in Europe where Qatar are playing two friendlies this week. He featured in Qatar’s 1-0 win over Switzerland last Wednesday.
Hassan is expected to play a key role in Qatar’s 2019 Asian Cup campaign to be held in the UAE.
The awards ceremony - to be hosted by Oman Football Association (OFA) will be held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The ceremony will be attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, QFA chief Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, and Sports Minister at the Ministry of Sports Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed bin Said Al Mardhouf Al Saadi, it has been confirmed.
Football officials from 46 member countries of AFC along with dignitaries from Oman will also be attendance.
QFA officials will also attend the awards ceremony.
