The UAE FA have appointed local coach Jumaa Rabie to lead the country's senior football team in their friendly match against Benin this Friday.

Jumaa Rabie
Rabie, who led the UAE to victory in the Kirin Cup in Japan earlier this year, has come in as a replacement for Dutchman Dick Advocaat, the former head coach, who has joined the South Korean technical staff.

Rabie has already selected his list of players, who will gather on Tuesday in Dubai and train at Rashid Stadium in Al Ahli Club, the venue of the friendly match.

Meanwhile, the UAE youth team defeated their Syrian counterparts 2-1 in a friendly match on Friday. The two teams will meet again tonight.

Both teams are preparing for the qualifiers of the Asian Youth Championships and places in the Fifa Youth World Cup.

Nasir Khamis put the UAE in the lead when he headed the first goal, 11 minutes into the game, but Mahmoud Al Uwaissi levelled the scores for Syria, 13 minutes later.

Abdullah Al Noobi scored the winner for the hosts, one minute before the break.

The UAE will host the Asian qualifiers of Group C, which also includes Yemen and Palestine, from November 23-27.

The winners of the group will proceed to the finals of the Asian Youth Championship.