Tom Saintfiet aims to lead Mali to their first World Cup participation in 2026. Currently, the team ranks fourth in Group I, trailing Comoros and Ghana by four points. He emphasizes the need to win all upcoming qualifiers to secure a spot. Mali previously missed World Cup qualification in 2022 but has shown promise with a successful AFCON qualifying campaign. Saintfiet faces the challenge of building an effective team from a talented squad.
Tom Saintfiet, the coach of the Mali national football team, expressed his aspiration to “write history” as he seeks to lead Mali towards their first qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Known as the Eagles, Mali currently sits fourth in Group I, trailing by four points behind group leaders Comoros and second-placed Ghana after completing four rounds of the qualifying matches.
With the World Cup qualifying campaign being crucial, only the group winners will secure a spot in the tournament. Saintfiet, who has been at the helm since August 2023, faces critical fixtures against Comoros in Moroni on March 20, followed by an away encounter with the Central African Republic, now managed by Rigobert Song.
“My dream and ambition as a coach is always to go to the World Cup,” stated the 51-year-old Belgian. Despite being in a challenging position, he remains optimistic, emphasizing, “We are going to try to win all six games and see what it brings, and to qualify for the World Cup.”
Previously, Mali came close to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, narrowly missing out after a play-off defeat to Tunisia. Since taking over from Eric Chelle, Saintfiet has successfully guided Mali through an unbeaten qualifying campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), finishing first in their group ahead of Mozambique.
Saintfiet noted that the team atmosphere was initially poor due to past challenges in World Cup qualifying, but he has managed to improve morale with a record of four wins and two draws. “After six matches…I’m quite positive that we are on the right track,” he remarked.
Mali’s squad boasts notable players such as Yves Bissouma from Tottenham, Nene Dorgeles of RB Salzburg, and Lassine Sinayoko of Auxerre, all of whom provide depth and talent. According to Saintfiet, identifying the right combination of players to form a cohesive team is his primary objective.
“It’s not selecting the best players, it’s selecting the best team. That’s now the task,” he articulated. Moving forward, Mali will look to capitalize on their six upcoming qualifiers, with efforts split between home and away matches. The next four fixtures will take place in September and October, leading to potential play-offs for the best-ranked second-placed teams.
In conclusion, Tom Saintfiet is determined to lead Mali to its first-ever World Cup qualification in 2026. Despite a challenging start, he is optimistic about the team’s chances of success, buoyed by previous accomplishments in AFCON qualifiers and a strong pool of talented players. The upcoming matches against Comoros and the Central African Republic will be critical as Mali pursues historical achievements in international football.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
