He returned once more in 1978 to help China in the 1978 Asian Games, where he once again helped them to another third position and again left after the competition. In 1979, he was given a position at the Chinese Soccer Association; however, Nian Weisi would find himself returning to the national team again in 1980 to help them for the 1980 AFC Asian Cup. For the final time Nian Weisi was brought in to help China qualify for the world cup; however, his reign was to be unsuccessful as China crashed out in the group stages in qualifying. He would once more return to the Chinese Soccer Association and in 1989 he became president.