Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has revealed that his ambition to lead Ghana’s senior national team was driven by passion rather than financial gain.
The Belgian tactician was among the candidates considered to replace Chris Hughton as Black Stars coach before Otto Addo was reappointed in March 2024. Saintfiet confirmed that he held a four-hour discussion with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) during the process.
“I wanted to coach the Black Stars, not for money, but to help Ghana achieve success in international competitions,” Saintfiet told Adom TV’s Fire for Fire.
Having previously guided The Gambia to consecutive Africa Cup of Nations appearances, Saintfiet said he harbours no resentment over being overlooked. Instead, he praised Addo’s efforts and hinted at a potential collaboration in the future.
“I would be glad to work with Otto Addo in the Black Stars’ coaching setup,” he said.
Saintfiet recently faced Addo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Ghana secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium, leaving the West Africans to fight for survival in the remaining fixtures.
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