Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Mahdi Ali has resigned as head coach of the United Arab Emirates following his side’s 2-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying loss to Australia.
Tuesday’s result at the Sydney Football Stadium left the UAE occupying fourth spot in Group B and their hopes of reaching Russia 2018 hanging by the slenderest of threads.
"Now is the time for me to leave," Ali, who assumed the role in 2012, told reporters after the game.
"I resigned before the Iraq game [in November], but the UAE Football Association insisted I continue.
"It is a very bad moment for me. I wish I could leave the national team in a better condition. But this is life. We have to accept it. After five years, I did my best," he added.
Under Ali’s guidance, the UAE won the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations and reached the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup two years later in Australia.
The UAE are now set to resume their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign in June when they travel to Bangkok to take on Thailand.
Photo: Lagardère Sports