The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) handed national team coach V. Sundramoorthy a two-year contract extension on Monday, and have given him the responsibility of qualifying for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
"Despite Sundram not achieving the target of a semifinal berth at the AFF Suzuki Cup, we believe he should be given another chance to prove himself," said FAS Provisional Council president Lim Kia Tong in a statement
"We will support Sundram fully and we expect the Lions to secure a top-two placing in Group E of the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 in the United Arab Emirates."
The Singapore national body had appointed Sundramoorthy on a one-year deal in May 2016 to replace Bernd Stange.
Despite failing to guide the Lions to the knockout stages of the biennial AFF Cup in November, FAS still believe Sundram is the man to take Singapore football to the next level.
Sundramoorthy will get an immediate chance to justify his contract renewal, beginning with victory away to Bahrain in Group E of the Asian Cup qualifiers on March 28.
Singapore are also grouped together with Turkmenistan and Chinese Taipei in the third-round qualifiers.
The 51-year-old was delighted to continue rebuilding the team for at least another 24 months.
"As a Singaporean, it is an honour to coach the national team and I am very happy to extend my contract. I am determined to lead our Lions to success during the AFC Asian Cup 2019 final round qualifying campaign." Sundram said.
Singapore will have Hariss Harun at their disposal for the crucial opener against Bahrain at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa.
The Johor Darul Ta'zim midfielder has signed a short term deal with S-League's Home United until June, after his year-long move to Spanish third-tier side CE L'Hospitalet stalled due to tax liability issues.
Singapore have only featured once in the Asian Cup as tournament host in 1984. They crashed out in the group stage in that edition, after finishing second from bottom in their group.