Qatar emerged with the title for the first time after seven straight wins in the United Arab Emirates saw them score 19 times and concede just once to claim the newly-minted AFC Asian Cup trophy as the country continues along the road towards the hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Almoez Ali emerged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player while Akram Afif and others impressed over the last four weeks and, with the Qataris boasting one of the youngest squads at the tournament, Sanchez believes there is more to come from his talented line-up.

Goals from Almoez Ali, Abdelaziz Hatim and Akram Afif secured the title for Sanchez’s side at the end of a gruelling month and the Spanish coach praised his side’s dedication to their trophy-winning task during the last seven games.

“Today we made history, we made history for our country so we need to be proud of our achievement,” said Sanchez, who took charge of the senior national side in June 2017. “It’s more proof that with hard work and commitment and working as a team you can reach very good results.

“This is one step more to continue developing the team to play in another tournament in the summer and to be ready in 2022 to represent Qatar.”

The 28-year-old Al Saad custodian played a key role in Al Annabi's unprecedented march to the title, conceding only once in his side's seven matches.

Al Sheeb was almost unbeatable throughout Qatar's historic campaign, as his side became the first to reach the final with six successive clean sheets to their name.

Ali struck once in Qatar's 3-1 win over Japan in the final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium to also seal the Top Goalscorer award on a historic night for him and his team.

The 22-year-old Al Duhail forward scored in the 12th minute with a spectacular overhead effort that left Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda helpless.

Ali was grateful to his teammates for helping him set the record.

"I expected to score goals, but I didn’t expect to score nine, I was expecting three or four. Thankfully the team helped me score many times.

"I would have been embarrassed as a striker if I didn’t score and I managed to score nine goals in seven games," said Ali.

Spectacular first-half strikes from Almoez Ali and Abdelaziz Hatim, coupled with a late penalty from Akram Afif helped Qatar seal their first-ever AFC Asian Cup title and deny the Samurai Blue a record-extending fifth Continental crown.

Takumi Minamino’s 69th minute goal had briefly hinted at a Japan revival, but notwithstanding the East Asians’ second-half rally, Moriyasu believes Qatar were full value for their success.

Stunning goals from Almoez Ali and Abdelaziz Hatim had Qatar two goals ahead within half an hour, but Japan found a lifeline through Takumi Minamino in the 69th minute, before a VAR-assisted penalty conceded by Yoshida was converted by Akram Afif, effectively sealing the tie at 3-1.

Yoshida, who won the title as a 22-year-old in Qatar eight years ago, was left to reflect on one that got away for the competition's most successful nation.

The pair both found the net brilliantly in an inspirational first half for Qatar, while, despite a spirited second-half display from Japan, Akram Afif added a late penalty to secure the West Asian nation’s first-ever Continental crown in spectacular fashion.

On a historic night for the Qataris, Felix Sanchez’s talented charges recorded their seventh successive victory, while Ali’s ninth strike of the competition saw him break Ali Daei’s record for the most goals by a player in a single edition of Asia’s premier event.

While there was unbridled joy for Qatar, the defeat ended Japanese hopes of claiming what would have been a record-extending fifth title.