FEMAFOOT turn to indigenous coach for Mali role after Tom Saintfiet's resignation

[p]The Belgian, who replaced Eric Chelle in 2024, left his role after nearly two years in charge of the Eagles.[/p][p]During his time, Saintfiet, who has previously coached [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/namibia/QLENxLuR/"]Namibia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zimbabwe/APEVkV8h/"]Zimbabwe[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ethiopia/4AGUPqC2/"]Ethiopia[/a], Malawi, Togo, and The Gambia, recorded nine wins, six draws, and just two losses in 17 official matches. [/p][p]He also led [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mali/jVn5lThB/"]Mali[/a] to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost to eventual champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/senegal/hOIsJLJr/"]Senegal[/a] at the Tangier Grand Stadium.[/p][p][b]With four months still left on his contract, the 53-year-old decided to leave, although reports suggest he may have been pushed out after failing to qualify Mali for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and not reaching the semi-finals of the last AFCON.[/b][/p][embed guid="8e565224-3b9d-4ecb-8dcf-776fbdaaaff6" url="https://x.com/sportingshina/status/2049825936132935939" social-type="twitter" /][p]However, a reliable source within the Malian Football Federation, speaking anonymously, told Flashscore that Saintfiet’s decision was forced following Mahazou Baba Cisse’s preference for appointing local coaches over expatriates. [/p][p]The source also claimed the Belgian tactician had been made aware of the situation when Cisse took office.[/p][p]Cisse was elected the new president of FEMAFOOT unopposed on April 16, 2025, in an election overseen by representatives from FIFA, CAF, and WAFU-A.[/p][p][b]Although a call for applications to replace Saintfiet has since been opened, reports suggest Mali are leaning towards appointing former international defender Fousseni Diawara.[/b][/p][p]The former Saint-Etienne and Ajaccio right-back is currently viewed as the frontrunner for the role, having previously served as head coach of Mali’s U23 side and assistant coach of the senior national team. [/p][p]He is currently working as assistant coach of the Guinea national football team.[/p][p]The most recent Malian coach to hold the senior job was Chelle, who was dismissed following a goalless draw against 10-man Madagascar in a World Cup qualifier held in Johannesburg.[/p][image alt="Shina Oludare" id="457bc263-467c-442e-9371-f2127fac5b6b" credit-line="Flashscore News" guid="a628d187-3106-4240-923b-37aeea72fe00" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]