Shaikh Salman hails Indonesia for clinching first-ever AFC eAsian Cup title
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa congratulated Indonesia after they were crowned champions of the inaugural AFC eAsian Cup at Doha's Virtuocity eSports Arena on Monday.
The final day of the event commenced with Semi-final showdowns between Indonesia and Thailand, Japan and Saudi Arabia, followed by the riveting final contest between the two finalists, Indonesia and Japan, which saw more than 200,000 viewers tuning in.
The formidable Indonesian trio, led by Rizky Faidan, Mohamad Akbar Paudie, and the 2022 IESF Bali World Esports champion Elga Cahya Putra, secured victory against Japan in two nail-biting encounters. The first win came in a tense penalty shootout, while the second was sealed with a hard-fought 1-0 win in the 100th minute of extra time.
The five-day spectacle, featuring teams from the Confederation's Member Associations who qualified for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, added yet another chapter to the AFC's rich history, further underlining its ambitions of cementing its place as a model Confederation.
Lauding the Indonesian side on their remarkable achievement, Shaikh Salman said: "On behalf of the AFC, I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations to Indonesia on their phenomenal performance at the AFC eAsian Cup, which has truly exemplified the extraordinary talent that thrives in Asia.
"I also want to extend my wishes to all the other participants, for being part of this exciting adventure and going down in history as participants of the very first edition of the event. Over the last few days, we have connected with a whole new generation of fans and have had contenders from all over the Continent come together to celebrate the spirit of football.
"The AFC has always been steadfast in its mission to remain inclusive, and this journey into the virtual realm is the latest step towards realising that goal."
Hailing the excellent hosting capabilities and hospitality of the Qatar Football Association and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event, the AFC President added: "A lot of hard work has gone into making this event a success and we must thank our friends from the LOC for their tireless efforts.
"Hosting the inaugural edition of the event in the same city as the ongoing AFC Asian Cup™ made the experience truly unforgettable and I would also like to thank the Qatar Football Association for organising the event with hospitality of the highest standards."