DOHA: The Qatar junior string that won the Asian Under-19 Championship in Myanmar on Thursday returned home on Saturday to a rapturous welcome.

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.

It was Qatar’s first triumph at this level.

HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani the Special Representative of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani led the heroes’ greetings upon their arrival at Hamad International Airport.

Also present were H E Salah bin Ghanim Al-Ali, the Minister of Youthand Sports, H E Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, SecretaryGeneral of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), in addition to manysenior sports officials and heads of sports clubs, associations and alarge number of retired football players.

Hamad International Airport was packed with large scores offootballfans, both Qataris and expatriates of various age groups who were keen to be present hours before the arrival of the national team to celebrate the young victorious squad.

Chants were loud sung, cheers and applause rose as the masses awaited the arrival of the Asian Champion who landed, carrying the precious trophy at around 6 pm today.

After the players disembarked the aircraft, the National Anthem was played.

The Qatari U-19s made history and claimed their maiden AFC U-19 Championship title after a 1-0 victory over DPR Korea in Thursday’s final in Yangon, Myanmar.