The Mali national football team is entering a new chapter. Tom Saintfiet, the Belgian coach who arrived in August 2024, has officially stepped down from his position as national team manager. The announcement was made by the Malian Football Federation in an official statement released on Tuesday evening.
Under Saintfiet’s guidance, the Mali national team, known as the Eagles, reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) with a pragmatic approach. The team drew all three group-stage matches before securing a dramatic extra-time victory over Tunisia in the round of 16. Their journey ended in a narrow 0-1 defeat against Senegal in the quarter-finals.
According to both the Malian Football Federation and Tom Saintfiet’s own statements, the parting of ways was amicable. Reports from Afrik-Foot had earlier highlighted unpaid wages as a point of contention raised by the Belgian coach. However, Saintfiet’s public gratitude toward the new Federation president, Mahazou Baba Cisset, suggests that any financial disputes have since been resolved.
Malian Football Federation seeks new national coach
The departure of Tom Saintfiet was not entirely unexpected. Federation president Mahazou Baba Cisset had previously indicated his intention to appoint a new head coach, outlining specific criteria for the role.
The search is now focused on identifying an African coach with prior experience in leading a team to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. This significantly narrows the field to a select group of high-profile candidates, including Aliou Cissé (Senegal), Djamel Belmadi (Algeria), and Walid Regragui (Morocco). Their phones may soon be ringing with an offer on the table.
