DOHA: National teams director Mansour Al Ansari has termed the achievement of Qatar’s U-19 national football team a perfect beginning for an era of success.

Al Ansari, who attended a hero’s welcome home reception for the team at Hamad International Airport on Saturday evening, believes this young crop of players has what it takes to compete on the highest levels for many years to come.

He was quoted: The Aspire Academy has played a major role in the development of the players and can take due credit. The boys also benefited from the foreign camps, during which they played against teams with different styles.

Spanish coach Felix Sanchez has been successful in getting the best out of them by adopting a style mostly based on possession and short passing game.

Super sub Akram Afif scored within seconds of coming on as Qatar claimed their maiden AFC U-19 Championship title after a 1-0 victory over DPR Korea in Thursday’s final at Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium.