Major changes are underway for Mali’s football team. Tom Saintfiet, who took charge in August 2024, is no longer the national coach, as announced by the Malian Football Federation in a statement released on Tuesday evening.
The Belgian manager guided the Aigles du Mali to the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 with a pragmatic approach—three draws in the group stage and a narrow extra-time win over Tunisia in the Round of 16. Their journey ended in a tight 0-1 defeat to Senegal in the quarterfinals.
According to official statements from both the Malian Football Federation and Tom Saintfiet, the parting was amicable. While earlier reports suggested unpaid wages were a point of contention, the Belgian coach’s public gratitude toward Federation President Mahazou Baba Cisset indicates that any issues have been resolved.
who could be Mali’s next national coach?
The end of Saintfiet’s tenure was anticipated, as Federation President Mahazou Baba Cisset had previously outlined his search criteria for a new head coach.
Cisset is reportedly seeking an African coach with prior experience leading a team to a Africa Cup of Nations final. This narrows the pool to a select group of highly qualified candidates, including Aliou Cissé (Senegal), Djamel Belmadi (Algeria), and Walid Regragui (Morocco)—all of whom may soon receive an unexpected call.
You may also like
-
Yehvann Diouf reflects on Senegal’s CAN victory and off-field incidents
-
Yéhvann diouf’s rollercoaster season: from can glory to nice’s bench
-
Burkina Faso’s leader paints a rosy picture as human rights report reveals grim reality
-
Burkina Faso’s stark reality: human rights and captain traoré’s leadership