Sri Lanka extends coach Al Mutairi’s role after FIFA ranking surge

Football Sri Lanka has decided to extend head coach Abdullah Al Mutairi’s contract until the next FIFA international calendar, following the national team’s recent success.

The decision comes after Sri Lanka’s stunning victory over Cambodia, which secured their place in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier final round. This triumph also led to Sri Lanka’s long-awaited improvement in the FIFA rankings after many years of stagnation.

Al Mutairi, a 42-year-old Kuwaiti national, joined Sri Lanka football as interim head coach in August this year, with the specific task of preparing the team for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification play-off round against Cambodia.

Previously, Al Mutairi served as head coach of Nepal’s national football team during the 2022 FIFA World Cup (AFC) qualifiers, adding significant experience to his role with Sri Lanka.

His next challenge will be leading Sri Lanka in a two-legged series against Myanmar, scheduled for October 10 and 13 in Myanmar.

Source: Daily News