Four Iranians among nominees for AFC Awards
Olympiacos striker Mahdi Taremi was nominated for the Asian International Player of the Year prize at the upcoming AFC Awards Riyadh 2025.
The Asian Football Confederation announced the highly anticipated list of nominees – including six Iranians – for 29th edition of the gala ceremony, which will be staged in the Saudi capital on October 16, on Thursday.
Taremi, who made it to the UEFA Champions League final with Inter last season before suffering a 5-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, will be joined by South Korean winger Lee Kang-in – a treble winner with PSG – and Real Sociedad’s Japanese winger Takefusa Kubo in vying for the men’s prize.
Meanwhile, Iran international teammates Moslem Oladqobad and Salar Aqapour were shortlisted for the Futsal Men’s Player of the Year after helping the country lift a record-extending 13th Asian Cup trophy last year, with Thailand’s Muhammad Osamanmusa also nominated.
Marziyeh Jafari was nominated for the Women’s Coach of the Year.
Jafari led Bam Khatoon to an 11th Iranian top-flight title, as well as an impressive last-eight spot at the AFC Women’s Champions League, last season, and was also in charge of the national team when Women’s Team Melli won Group A of qualifiers – thanks to a sensational final-day win against host Jordan – in July to book a place in March’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals in Australia.
The Iranian Football Federation will be among the three nominees for the AFC Member Association of the Year (Platinum) award – alongside the Saudi and Japanese national governing bodies.