Tom Saintfiet leaves role as Mali head coach after two-year spell

Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet has officially stepped down as head coach of the Mali national team, bringing an end to his tenure that began in August 2024.

The 53-year-old confirmed his departure in a statement released overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, expressing gratitude to all stakeholders who supported his time in charge.

“I would like to thank my players, staff, the FEMAFOOT, the government, the media and naturally the fans for the fantastic two years we had together in Mali,” Saintfiet said.

Reflecting on his record, he highlighted that Mali suffered only two defeats in 17 competitive matches under his leadership, including a narrow loss to Ghana away and a quarter-final exit at the Africa Cup of Nations while playing with 10 men against Senegal.

He also pointed to several milestones achieved during his tenure, including reaching the AFCON quarter-finals for only the second time in six editions, posting the highest points-per-game average in Mali’s World Cup qualifying history (2.17), and recording the second-highest overall competitive average (1.94).

Among other highlights, Saintfiet noted Mali’s biggest victory in 50 years — a 6-0 win over Eswatini — an improvement in FIFA rankings from 53rd to 52nd, and the introduction of 21 debutants into the national team setup.

“I wish Mali good luck! Allez les Aigles,” he added.

Before taking charge of Mali, Saintfiet managed the Gambia national team from 2018 to 2024, earning recognition among Africa’s top coaches in 2022 and 2023. He was also a runner-up for the Belgian Coach of the Year award in 2022.

Over his extensive managerial career, Saintfiet has coached several national teams across Africa and beyond, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Togo, as well as clubs in Europe and the Middle East.