A former PSL boss now makes his return to Africa after landing a new job that Pitso Mosimane was reportedly shortlisted for.
The Malian Football Federation (Femafoot) has announced former Free State Stars manager Tom Saintfiet as the national side's new head coach.
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NID DES AIGLES Le technicien belge, Tom Saintfiet (51 ans) est le nouveau sélectionneur des Aigles du #Mali. pic.twitter.com/bcxAiCCDwg
— FEMAFOOT (@femafoot) August 28, 2024
This comes after weeks of speculation during a selection process that is believed to have seen Les Aigles' hierarchy consider six candidates for the position.
According to CAFonline, the Belgian tactician has penned a two-year deal with the possibility of an extension after emerging top of the shortlist that included Antonio Conceicao, Hector Cuper, and Pitso Mosimane.
Saintfiet's last role in Africa was as manager of The Gambia.
He was appointed in July 2018 and parted ways with the national team in January this year after they crashed out at the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The following month, he was unveiled as the new head coach for the Philippines, but is believed to have activated a clause in the contract that allowed him to make a return to African football.
It is understood the former FS Stars boss has been tasked with considerable targets, with Femafoot said to have tasked him with reaching the semi-finals of AFCON 2025 in Morocco and securing Mali's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tactician goes into his new job with a wealth of African experience, having also managed Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Togo.
He guided Gambia to AFCON 2021 – the side's first appearance at the continental competition – and led them to a quarter-final finish.
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Saintfiet's first set of challenges as Mali head coach will be the AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Mozambique and Eswatini on 6 and 9 September, respectively.