The Mali Football Federation acknowledges its Belgian coach’s contributions

The era of Tom Saintfiet as head coach of Mali’s national football team has come to an end. The Mali Football Federation (Femafoot) officially relieved the 53-year-old Belgian coach of his duties this week. Saintfiet, who took charge in August 2024, fell short of securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a tough clash against Senegal.

A heartfelt tribute from the Femafoot

Mahazou Cisset, the newly elected president of the Femafoot, expressed his appreciation for Saintfiet’s tenure in an official statement shared on the federation’s social media channels. He remarked, “Throughout your time with us, you demonstrated unwavering commitment, exceptional professionalism, and remarkable determination in fulfilling your role. Despite facing a demanding environment, you successfully maintained team cohesion, structured technical work, and proudly represented the colors of the Mali Eagles with dignity.”

Next steps for Malian football

The Femafoot has now opened a call for applications to appoint a new national team coach. Interested candidates have until May 10 to submit their applications. This transition period marks a pivotal moment for Malian football as the federation seeks to build on past achievements and chart a new course for the future.