“We have started measures to strengthen the national team in preparations to participate in upcoming regional and international events,” the prince said.

“It includes development of the Saudi Football Federation technically and administratively,” he added.

Prince Nawaf, who replaced Prince Sultan bin Fahd, accepted the resignation of Fahd Al-Musaibeeh as director of the Kingdom’s premier team, and his colleagues.

He said Nasser Al-Jowhar’s stint as coach of the team will finish by the end of Saudi Arabia’s match with Japan on Monday.

“We’ll reshuffle the team’s management in order to make it capable of taking responsibility by inducting efficient and experienced persons,” he said.

Prince Nawaf also disclosed plans to convene a meeting of experts and officials of clubs to discuss how to improve Saudi soccer. A new system would be introduced to reward best players and punish negligent ones. “Irresponsible players will have no place,” the prince warned.

Prince Nawaf’s appointment comes after the Saudi team’s disappointing performance in the knockout matches of the Asian Cup in the Qatari capital, Doha. Three-time champions Saudi Arabia exited from the tournament on Monday after being defeated in all the three matches.

The Kingdom lost the opening match against Syria 2-1, the second match against Jordan 1-0 and the third against Japan (5-0). This is the first time in the Kingdom’s football history that the national team has left the Asian Cup with such a poor performance.

Prince Sultan blamed four parties — the Saudi Football Federation, Al Jowhar's Portuguese predecessor Jose Peseiro, the players and the development committee comprising British and French experts — for the team’s failure.