[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Ahmed Ibrahim Khalaf Al-Qafaje was born in Al-Qayyarah in Nineveh Province, some 75 km south of the city of Mosul.

[13] Ahmed starred for his local team Al-Qayyarah SC playing in defence and sometimes in midfield and was paid a handsome fee to turn out for the side.

Only two years after playing local football in Al-Qayyarah, Ahmed was lining up as a starter for the Iraqi national team against India in Sharjah and went onto be named in the 2011 Asian Cup squad.

Following the Olympic games in Rio, Ahmed announced his return to the Iraqi Premier League by signing for Al Shorta but a clause in his contract stated that if an offer came in from a foreign club, he would be allowed to leave.

[14] He made his debut against Al Ahli in the first round of 2017–18 Saudi Professional League on August 11, he provided an assist in the 2–1 win.

He was brought into the squad at the last minute by coach Wolfgang Sidka replacing the injured Hussein Abdul Wahid and remained with the side ever since.

On March 28, 2015, on his 50th cap, Ahmed scored his first goal for his country heading in from a corner by Yaser Kasim in a friendly match against DR Congo in the UAE.