Akram Afif visibly frustrated after Qatar substitution in Gulf 27 semi-final

Akram Afif reacted angrily after Qatar manager Julen Lopetegui substituted him during the goalless semi-final against Saudi Arabia in the Arabian Gulf Cup “Gulf 27”.

Qatar were facing Saudi Arabia at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah on Saturday, 3 October 2026, with the score still 0-0 when Lopetegui made the decision in the 69th minute.

Afif appeared unhappy as he walked off the pitch. Television footage showed the Qatar forward repeatedly asking: “Why?” before eventually leaving the field.

The incident was captured in a video shared by ADSportsTV, showing Afif’s reaction to the change during the match.

It was the third time Afif had been substituted during Gulf 27. He was also taken off in Qatar’s group-stage matches against Bahrain and Yemen, while he did not feature in their third group game against the United Arab Emirates.

The 29-year-old has struggled to produce his best form during the tournament. His only direct contribution to a goal came in Qatar’s match against Bahrain, when he created one goal.

Lopetegui’s decision therefore drew attention because it came while the semi-final remained finely balanced, with neither side having broken the deadlock. Afif, one of Qatar’s key attacking players, was unable to influence the closing stages after being removed.