Tom Saintfiet Appointed Head Coach of Liberia Ahead of AFCON 2015 Campaign
Liberia has named Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet as the new head of its national football team, the Lone Stars, as the country ramps up preparations for qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The announcement marks a significant step for the West African nation as it seeks to restore its competitive presence on the continental stage.
Saintfiet, 40, brings with him a wealth of experience from across the African continent. He has previously held managerial roles with several African national teams including Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia. Most recently, he served as head coach of Malawi, guiding them through their campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers before parting ways with the federation last year.
The appointment comes after months of speculation surrounding the Belgian’s next move. Saintfiet had been linked with several coaching positions across Africa, notably in Togo, where he was shortlisted among the final five candidates for the national team role. However, that opportunity did not materialize, paving the way for Liberia to secure his services.
Speaking on the new appointment, officials from the Liberia Football Association expressed optimism about Saintfiet’s ability to steer the Lone Stars to a successful qualification campaign. The Belgian will officially begin his tenure on May 18th, when Liberia faces Lesotho in the preliminary round of AFCON 2015 qualifiers.
Saintfiet’s immediate task will be to assemble a competitive squad capable of navigating a tough qualification pathway. Liberia has struggled in recent years to assert itself within African football, failing to qualify for a major continental tournament since 2002. With Saintfiet’s tactical experience and familiarity with African football dynamics, the Liberian FA is hoping he can reverse that trend.
In a brief statement following his appointment, Saintfiet expressed his enthusiasm for the role. “I am honoured to be taking charge of the Liberian national team. This is a proud footballing nation with great potential, and I look forward to working closely with the players, the staff, and the federation to bring success back to Liberian football,” he said.
Liberian fans will be hopeful that Saintfiet can instil discipline, structure, and competitive spirit into the team. His track record suggests he is capable of achieving just that. Notably, he helped improve Namibia’s FIFA ranking during his tenure and was widely credited with building a solid foundation for future development.
The timing of the appointment gives Saintfiet just under two weeks to assess his squad, conduct training camps, and prepare for Liberia’s crucial opening fixture against Lesotho. Victory in that match would provide a much-needed morale boost and set the tone for a potentially revitalised campaign.
While his name may no longer be in the running for the Togo job, the Belgian tactician has clearly found a new challenge with Liberia — one that offers both pressure and promise in equal measure.
Tags: Liberia, Tom Saintfiet, African Cup of Nations, Lone Stars, AFCON 2015, African Football, Togo, Lesotho
