West Asia UAE

UAE coach Mahdi Ali leaves after loss to Australia

UAE national team head coach Mahdi Ali has announced his resignation after a 2-0 defeat to Australia in the 2018 World Cup qualification on Tuesday.

The loss in Sydney left the Middle-East side four points behind the Socceroos in Group B of the third round of Asian qualifying, with the team could now miss out on a place in the next year’s finals in Russia.

“I have spent 13 years with the national team. We had so many achievements and we work very hard. But now the time comes for me to leave,” the 51-year-old tactician told reporters.

“It is a very bad moment for me. I wish I would leave the national team in a better condition but this is life.”

“I resigned before the Iraq game, [but] the federation asked me to stay. After five years, I did my best.”

Two consecutive losses to Japan and Australia in this week saw UAE currently sit on the third place with just three matches to play.