Tom Saintfiet, head coach of Mali, aims to guide the national football team to their first World Cup in 2026. Currently fourth in Group I, Mali faces crucial qualifiers against Comoros and Central African Republic. Despite past challenges, Saintfiet is optimistic and believes in the team’s potential to win all future matches.
Tom Saintfiet, the head coach of the Mali national football team, aspires to make history by guiding the team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Currently, Mali sits fourth in Group I of the qualifying campaign, trailing leaders Comoros and Ghana by four points after four matches. To improve their standings, Mali will face Comoros on March 20 and the Central African Republic shortly thereafter, presenting an opportunity for resurgence, given only the group winners secure a World Cup spot.
Saintfiet, appointed in August 2023, expressed his aspirations, stating, “My dream and ambition as a coach is always to go to the World Cup.” Despite the challenging situation, he is optimistic, asserting the team’s goal is to win all upcoming matches for a chance at qualification. The Eagles previously fell just short in their bid for the 2022 World Cup, losing to Tunisia by a single aggregate goal in the playoff rounds.
Under Saintfiet’s leadership, Mali has shown promise, having completed an unbeaten run in the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). They topped their group with only four dropped points across six matches. Reflecting on the previous atmosphere within the team, he noted, “When I came, the atmosphere was not so good… I had to change fortunes very quickly,” leading to a positive trajectory with four wins and two draws in their qualifying campaign.
Mali boasts a talented roster, featuring key players such as Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma and Auxerre’s Lassine Sinayoko. Saintfiet emphasized the challenge is not just selecting top players but forming a well-functioning team. He remarked on the luxury of talent, stating, “It’s not selecting the best players, it’s selecting the best team. That’s now the task.” The upcoming fixtures include two home games and four away matches.
Following the March fixtures, the final four games will take place in September and October, with the top four second-placed sides from all groups entering playoffs for a final opportunity to secure a place at the World Cup in North America.
In summary, Tom Saintfiet is determined to lead Mali to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 2026. Despite currently being in a challenging position within their qualifying group, he remains optimistic about the team’s potential. With a strong squad and a successful recent campaign in Afcon qualifiers, Mali aims to harness their talent and achieve significant results in the upcoming matches. Saintfiet’s focus now lies on forming a cohesive team to address these challenges and capitalize on their opportunities.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
