Dubai: UAE coach Mahdi Ali looks set to extend his contract with the UAE Football Association (UAE FA) until 2018 following Wednesday’s impressive goalless draw away to Norway.
If confirmed, Ali’s new deal will take him up until the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia and qualification for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
The Whites recovered from a nervous start to hold the Norwegians, who are ranked 12 positions higher than the UAE in the current world rankings.
Ali’s side were also without six key players and went up against Norway’s hottest prospect in Martin Odegaard, who became the youngest player to represent the national team aged just 15 years and 253 days.
Ali took over from Srecko Katanec in August 2012 after helping the Under-23 UAE team qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in their history.
He went on to win the 2013 Gulf Cup and helped the team reach the 2015 Asian Cup. In 24 games in charge, he has won 19, drawn three and lost two — going 20 games unbeaten between September 2012 and May 2014.
Wednesday’s match against Norway was in preparation for the Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia, from November 13 to 26, where the UAE have been drawn in Group B with Oman, Kuwait and Iraq.
They are also preparing for the Asian Cup in Australia from January 9-31, where they have been drawn in Group C with Qatar, Bahrain and Iran.
Upcoming preparatory friendlies include Lithuania on September 3, Paraguay on September 7, Australia on October 10 and Uzbekistan on October 14.
