Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has revealed that he held discussions with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) about taking over as Black Stars manager earlier this year.
The Belgian tactician made the disclosure ahead of Mali’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 8.
Saintfiet gained prominence after leading The Gambia to the quarterfinals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a performance that attracted interest from several African football federations, including Ghana.
Following Ghana’s early exit from the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast and the subsequent dismissal of Chris Hughton, Saintfiet was reportedly among the candidates considered for the vacant coaching role.
“It’s true that at that moment, around AFCON, there were talks… but I had a feeling I was close to the Black Stars job,” he said.
“I spoke for about four hours in total with the Ghana Federation, with Kurt [Okraku] and Mark [Addo], the President and Vice President… but in the end, they decided to go with another coach,” Saintfiet added.
The 51-year-old was officially appointed Mali head coach on August 28, replacing Eric Chelle. Since taking charge, he has gone six matches unbeaten, injecting renewed optimism into Mali’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
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