Habib Jafar Akal (Arabic: حبيب جعفر) (born 1 July 1966) is a former Iraqi footballer.[2] He was featured on the national team many times and is remembered for competing in various Gulf Cup competitions. In the 1988 Gulf Cup, he was voted as the best player of the competition. He became a regular of the national team at a young age and was almost even called up for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, but he was thought to be to inexperienced by then-coach, Evaristo de Macedo.[3]

Habib Jafar
Personal information
Full name Habib Jafar Aqal
Date of birth (1966-07-01) 1 July 1966 (age 58)
Place of birth Baghdad, Iraq
Position(s) Right winger
Team information
Current team
Al-Zafaraniyah (Manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1985 Al-Talaba
1985–1990 Al-Rasheed
1990–1991 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
1991–1993 Al-Talaba
1993–1995 Qatar SC
1995–1996 Al-Ittihad
1996–1998 Al-Wakrah
1998–2000 Al-Ansar
2000–2004 Al-Talaba
International career
1986–2001 Iraq[1] 71 (16)
Managerial career
2007 Al-Talaba
2017 Al-Talaba
2020 Al-Zafaraniyah
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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He was a key player in the Iraqi national team during the late 1980s and through the 1990s. Habib first appeared in the national team in 1988, playing in the Arab Championship, Olympics in Seoul and the Gulf Cup, where he was voted as player of the tournament. Was an important part of a talented Iraqi side that nearly qualified for the World Cup in 1994.[4] However, in their penultimate match against Iran, he was sent off receiving a red card, and did not participate in their next and last game against Japan.

He spent his time with clubs in Iraq, and spent a 4-year spell in Qatar[3] with Al-Rayyan, Al-Ittihad (now known as "Al-Gharaffa"), and Al-Wakra, and in the latest part of his career, with Dhofar of Oman.

Retired from the international scene after being omitted from the Asian Cup squad in Lebanon in 2000, by Milan Zivadinovic, but was surprisingly brought back by Adnan Hamad after the sacking of Milan in February 2001. Habib was placed by the German-based Federation of Football History & Statistics as Iraq's 3rd best player of the century.[4]

Career statistics

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International goals

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Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 27 March 1986 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa   Qatar 1–0 1–1 8th Arabian Gulf Cup
2. 8 March 1988 King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh 1–0 3–0 9th Arabian Gulf Cup
3. 13 January 1989 Amman International Stadium, Amman   Jordan 1–0 1–0 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification
4. 26 February 1990 Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City   Bahrain 1–0 1–0 10th Arabian Gulf Cup
5. 18 August 1992 Al-Hassan Stadium, Irbid   Ethiopia 4–0 13–0 1992 Jordan Tournament
6. 8–0
7. 26 August 1992   Moldova 1–0 1–0
8. 19 October 1993 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha   South Korea 2–2 2–2 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
9. 16 February 1997 Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad   Jordan 1–0 1–0 Friendly
10. 17 November 1998 National Stadium, Beirut   Lebanon 2–0 2–0 Friendly
11. 3 August 1999 Central Stadium, Dushanbe   Tajikistan 2–1 2–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
12. 29 August 1999 Amman International Stadium, Amman   Libya 1–0 3–1 1999 Pan Arab Games
13. 14 April 2001 Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad     Nepal 4–0 9–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Iraq - Record International Players
  2. ^ "AFTEREFFECTS: REIGN OF TERROR; Soccer Players Describe Torture by Hussein's Son - The New York Times". 19 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Iraqi football; Hall of Fame. - Page 3 - aliraqi Community". 17 July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ a b Hassanin Mubarak. "Player Database". iraqsport.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2001.
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