TOKYO - Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said Friday the immediate target of winning the Asian Cup was behind the unorthodox decision to retain national team manager Hajime Moriyasu on a short-term contract.

Moriyasu will extend his eight-year tenure as the Japan manager until the tournament in Saudi Arabia at the start of next year before current Japan under-21 manager Go Oiwa starts doubling as the Samurai Blue manager.

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