The journey has come to an end for the Belgian tactician. On Tuesday evening, the Malian Football Federation (Femafoot) officially announced the dismissal of Tom Saintfiet from his position as head coach of the Mali national team. The 53-year-old manager, who took the reins in August 2024, leaves his post after failing to secure a spot for the 2026 World Cup and suffering a quarter-final exit at CAN 2025 against Sénégal.

Recognition from Femafoot

Despite the separation, the newly elected president of Femafoot, Mahazou Cisset, paid tribute to Tom Saintfiet through a statement shared on the federation’s social media platforms. “During your tenure, you demonstrated unwavering commitment, exemplary professionalism, and remarkable determination in fulfilling your mission,” the statement read. “In a demanding environment, you successfully maintained squad cohesion, structured the technical framework, and represented the Aigles du Mali with great dignity.”

To find a successor for the national team bench, a formal call for applications has been launched. Potential candidates have until May 10 to submit their applications to the federation.