Asia: AFC Annual Football Awards Seoul 2023, Yazan Young-woo, Kiko tops the list
The spotlight will be shone firmly on the AFC Annual Awards Seoul 2023 come October 29 when the Player of the Year winners are revealed at the glittering ceremony.
Six of Asia’s very best are in the running for the most prestigious accolade of the night at the Grand Peace Palace in Kyung Hee University, in recognition of their outstanding performances for club and country.
Yazan Al Naimat, Seol Young-woo and Akram Afif will vie for the AFC Player of the Year prize, while Cortnee Vine, Kiko Seike and Kim Hye-ri are in contention for the AFC Women’s Player of the Year trophy.
Nominated for their superb and consistent displays between May 2023 and May 2024, each of them has undoubtedly showcased the world-class ability of Asian players and thrilled the Continent’s passionate fans.
AFC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Yazan Al Naimat
Jordan’s memorable run to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Final will live long in the memory of football fans and one of the key faces of the historic achievement was Yazan Al Naimat – the first nominee from his nation in this award’s history.
The forward scored twice in the Group Stage, in addition to making two assists, before netting the opener in a stunning 2-0 upset win against Korea Republic in the Semi-final. Al Naimat then became the first ever Jordanian to score in the showpiece Final when he equalised against eventual champions Qatar, taking his overall tally to four to finish as the tournament’s third-best scorer.
Dovetailing superbly with Mousa Al Tamari throughout the competition, Al Naimat’s attacking prowess and intelligence was showcased to a global audience as he became a national hero.
With 46 caps and 21 goals since making his international bow in 2021, the 25-year-old has helped Jordan reach the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 and will be a pivotal figure as they target a maiden FIFA World Cup qualification.
A star for Qatari outfit Al Ahli SC since joining in January 2022, Al Naimat’s exploits saw him coveted by rival clubs and he made the move to Al Arabi SC ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Seol Young-woo
Having established himself as one of the best full-backs in the K League 1 over the past two years, Seol made his inevitable breakthrough into the Korea Republic national team in 2023.
Handed his debut in June, Seol grabbed his opportunity and never looked back as the indefatigable defender went on to start every game at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™. Capable of playing on either flank, Seol’s versatility makes him an invaluable asset and he memorably set up Cho Gue-sung’s last-gasp equaliser in the Round of 16 against Saudi Arabia, which the Taeguk Warriors went on to win on penalties.
While Korea Republic eventually bowed out in the Semi-finals, they discovered a new star in Seol, who has since become a firm fixture in the side with 20 appearances under his belt to date.
Born and bred in Ulsan, Seol also shone bright at the club level for Ulsan HD, for whom he debuted in 2020 and has been a regular since 2021. Indispensable as they lifted their second consecutive league title in 2023, Seol was vital in their run to the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Semi-finals as well, netting the deciding goal in their last eight tie against rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
The 25-year-old is the first Korea Republic nominee for this award since Ha Dae-sung in 2013, with Lee Kuen-ho’s win in 2012 the only triumph by the East Asian nation. Unsurprisingly, the fan favourite attracted overseas interest, and Seol is now plying his trade with Serbian giants Crvena Zvezda after making the move in July 2024.
Akram Afif
It was perhaps fitting that Akram Afif scored the first goal of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ as well as its last for by the time it was over, he had reigned supreme in a tournament display for the ages.
Pulling all the strings on home soil, the irrepressible attacker scored eight goals and laid on three assists to spearhead Qatar’s charge to a second consecutive Asian crown amid an unbeaten campaign.
Afif scored winning goals against Tajikistan and Palestine, and netted once and made an assist against the Islamic Republic of Iran in the last four, before saving the best for last. A stunning treble in the Final made Afif the first ever player to score a hat-trick in the finale of Asia’s crown jewel, earning him the Most Valuable Player and Yili Top Scorer accolades while cementing his legacy as one of the best in tournament history.
With two goals and five assists, Afif went on to finish Round 2 of the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ strongly as Qatar eased into the next stage to stay on track for a second FIFA World Cup appearance.
The 27-year-old was unstoppable at the club level as well, plundering 26 goals and 11 assists in just 22 matches to lead Al Sadd SC to a record 17th league title, and also added the 2024 Amir Cup to his trophy collection.
Afif, capped 116 times for the Maroons with 38 goals, can become only the third player to win this award more than once, having claimed it in his previous sole nomination in 2019.
AFC WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cortnee Vine
With history on the line, Cortnee Vine kept her nerve and buried the winning spot-kick against France at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, sending the home side into the Semi-finals and catapulting herself to instant fame.
The forward’s spot-kick decided the longest penalty shootout in tournament history and saw the Matildas become the first ever senior Australian side to make the last four of a FIFA World Cup, as they went on to finish fourth and captivate an entire nation in the process.
Swift and skilful, Vine made her international debut at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ and soon became an important part of the team under Tony Gustavsson as she went on to fulfil her dream of playing at the World Cup.
The Shepparton, Victoria native’s star had been rising steadily since making her professional bow at 17 at Brisbane Roar in 2015. After spells at Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers, Vine flourished at Sydney FC and her tally of 10 goals and six assists helped the Sky Blues seal a record fifth A-League Women championship – her second in a row – to cap off a superb 2023/24 season.
Vine’s World Cup displays were a major reason for rising interest in the A-League as she became arguably its most recognisable face, before the United States’ North Carolina Courage swooped in to sign the 30-cap international in June 2024.
Kiko Seike
The 2023/24 season was a goal-laden one for Kiko Seike, who took the WE League by storm with her prolific form.
She plundered 20 goals and dished out 10 assists in 22 matches to lead Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies to a second straight league title, which also saw Seike bag a hat-trick of awards: Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer and Best XI. The striker was equally ruthless at the AFC Women’s Club Championship™ 2023, scoring in all four games to finish with seven goals and help Urawa lift their maiden Continental title.
The Tokyo native came through Urawa’s youth ranks and had started out as a full-back and wing-back, before moving into a more advanced position in recent years. Seike had shown signs of blossoming into a potent threat in the previous season, scoring 12 times to help the club win their first league crown.
Part of the Nadeshiko’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 squad, the 28-year-old featured thrice in their run to the Quarter-finals and currently has seven goals in 26 caps.
Seike’s explosiveness, speed and clinical nature led to an overseas move as she left Urawa in July 2024 after more than 330 appearances over 15 years to join England’s Brighton Hove & Albion.
Kim Hye-ri
A colossus at the back for both club and country, Kim Hye-ri continues to be ever present and reliable as she enjoyed a solid season in 2023/24.
The fourth most-capped women’s international for Korea Republic, the centurion became one of seven players to appear at three editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the Taeguk Ladies when she captained them at Australia & New Zealand 2023, where they notably held Germany to a 1-1 draw.
Dependable at both right-back and in the heart of defence, Kim also skippers her club side Hyundai Steel Red Angels, whom she joined in 2014 from Seoul Women’s FC. The 34-year-old has been a league champion in every season since and led her club to a remarkable 11th straight WK League title in 2023, while scoring once enroute to their runners-up finish at the AFC Women’s Club Championship™ 2023.
Regarded as one of her country’s best ever players, Kim has amassed 126 caps to date and looks set to keep on going strongly.
