A significant shift is underway for Malian football. Tom Saintfiet, who took the helm in August 2024, has officially concluded his tenure as the national team’s head coach. This development was confirmed by the Malian Football Federation on Tuesday evening.
The Belgian tactician successfully guided the Eagles to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals, employing a pragmatic playing style. Their journey included three draws in the group stage and a decisive extra-time victory over Tunisia in the round of sixteen. Ultimately, their campaign ended with a narrow 0-1 defeat against Senegal.
Both the Federation’s official statements and Tom Saintfiet’s own communications suggest an amicable parting of ways. While previous reports from Afrik-Foot highlighted the coach’s concerns regarding outstanding salaries, Saintfiet’s public gratitude towards the new president, Mahazou Baba Cisset, indicates that any such financial matters have likely been resolved.
The search begins for Mali’s next national team coach
Tom Saintfiet’s departure comes as no surprise, especially since Mahazou Baba Cisset had previously articulated his intention to seek a new head coach, clearly outlining the desired qualifications for the role.
The president of the Malian Federation is specifically targeting an African coach with prior experience managing a final in the Africa Cup of Nations. This stringent criterion significantly narrows the pool of potential candidates to prominent figures such as Aliou Cissé of Senegal, Djamel Belmadi from Algeria, and Morocco’s Walid Regragui. Speculation suggests these esteemed coaches may already be receiving calls regarding the vacant position.