The latest appointment of Tom Saintfiet as head coach of Mali’s national football team continues the Belgian’s long-lasting passion for African sport. Saintfiet is a seasoned coach with a profound love for Africa. His dedication to the sport of football has taken him all over the world, making an impression in every country he has visited. After a short time in the Philippines, which he left to return to the continent he calls “beautiful,” he landed his newest role.
From Namibia to Mali: A Football Odyssey Across Africa
Thanks to his tenure as manager of multiple African national teams, Tom Saintfiet’s name has come to be associated with the sport of football in Africa. Starting in Namibia, he went on to coach for Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, Togo, and, most famously, The Gambia in Africa. Saintfiet enjoyed historic success with The Gambia, guiding the team to their first-ever berth at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). This showcases his talent for turning underperforming sides into formidable competitors.
Now that he is in charge of Mali, Saintfiet must restore hope to a squad that has faltered in its attempts to reach the 2026 World Cup. The 51-year-old coach still sees this as a chance to finally take an African nation to the top level of football despite all the obstacles.
The Hope and Promise of Mali’s Ascend to the World Cup
Coach Tom Saintfiet is more than meets the eye; he is an idealist who sees greatness in the future of African football. He thinks the Mali national team and others from Africa, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have tremendous potential to create waves at this year’s World Cup. Saintfiet is certain of these nations’ abilities because of the caliber of their players, many of whom are elite league competitors in Europe.
In an interview with BBC Sport Africa, Saintfiet commented, “With the right coach, tactical approach, and preparation, these teams can compete for the World Cup.” There was no miscommunication about that. It takes just one miraculous performance to shock the world, he stressed, even if teams like France, Argentina, and Brazil are generally considered better.
An Excellent Chance for Africa in the Expanded World Cup
With 48 teams competing, up from 32 in the previous edition, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be a watershed moment in African football. With this enlargement, at least nine spaces will be reserved for African teams, giving the continent a better chance to show off its footballing skills. Saintfiet hopes that Mali can maintain the same level of success as Morocco, whose incredible 2022 World Cup journey to the semi-finals proved that African countries can compete at the greatest level.
Afcon Triumph: The Gambia’s Past and Present
The time that Tom Saintfiet spent coaching The Gambia was a high point of his career. Under his leadership, the squad finally broke their five-year losing streak and finally qualified for a big event in 2018. Saintfiet was unfazed by the enormous challenge. Under his guidance, The Gambia’s players and coaches achieved a historic first in 2021 when they competed in the Africa Cup of Nations. After being ranked 172nd in the world only a few years ago, they accomplished the incredible feat of qualifying and making it all the way to the quarterfinals.
There were many difficulties throughout Saintfiet’s tenure with The Gambia. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the team had to practice in the Brussels Airport parking lot before their historic qualification match against Angola. The squad didn’t let these losses derail them, though; with Saintfiet’s resolve and concentration, they were able to earn a spot in the competition.
Perspective: How to Get to the World Cup
Tom Saintfiet is laser-focused on the prize as he readies Mali to compete in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In September, he will lead Mali in matches against Eswatini and Mozambique. In March, they will play the Central African Republic and Comoros in two important World Cup qualifiers.
With Saintfiet leading the charge, Mali’s prospects for a trip to North America for the 2026 World Cup have taken a turn for the better despite the team’s dismal standing in the qualification group.
