By Gariba Raubil,Samuel Obour
Copyright yen
Tom Saintfiet remains a future candidate for the Black Stars job, even after Mali’s loss to Ghana last MondayThe seasoned Belgian coach has opened up on his prospects of securing one of his dream roles in African footballMinister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Otto Addo’s coaching performance
The name of Tom Saintfiet, current head coach of Mali, has suddenly gained traction in Ghanaian football circles after the Black Stars’ narrow 1-0 victory over the Eagles in Monday’s World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 8.
The Belgian tactician, who is highly respected across African football, surprisingly revealed before the crunch encounter that he had once been interviewed for the Ghana coaching role but was not given the job.
That revelation set the tone for an intriguing subplot as his Mali side faced off against the very team he might one day manage.
According to Flashscore, Ghana carried the day thanks to Alexander Djiku’s decisive strike, but it was Saintfiet’s words after the game that sparked even more buzz.
A Ghanaian sports journalist boldly told him during the post-match interactions that he would become the next coach of the Black Stars.
With a calm smile, the experienced trainer responded with a short but powerful phrase: “Insha Allah” — meaning “God willing.”
Could Saintfiet replace Otto Addo?
For now, Otto Addo remains firmly in charge, but Saintfiet’s public acknowledgment of his past interview and his subtle openness to the role has left football enthusiasts wondering whether the future could see him switch from Mali’s dugout to Ghana’s.
That single question has ignited speculation and fresh debate among fans, particularly after Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, said he was not satisfied with Otto Addo’s performance during his second stint.
Therefore, could Saintfiet, a man who has coached multiple African national teams including Gambia and Malawi, eventually take over the Black Stars?
His knowledge of African football, tactical discipline, and vast international experience make him a credible candidate in the eyes of many.
Meanwhile, Tom Saintfiet’s post-match response of “Insha Allah” when asked about his chances of becoming the next Ghana coach has also triggered reactions among Malian supporters.
Many fans of the Eagles took to X to share their views, with some backing their coach to stay loyal while others saw nothing wrong with his openness about the Ghana job.
@mohxmesed wrote:
”We need to appoint a Malian as the coach because just looking at these images proves that the defeat doesn’t really hurt this clown that much, even though we’re out of the World Cup. This guy is just there for his job, he doesn’t care if it works or not, the main thing is he gets paid.”
@Loup938 said:
”Honestly, I wanted to believe him, but I’m getting off the train now, not even necessarily because of the match, just because of this attitude, we’re in a madhouse, so we just got defeated, and there, acting all in front of the cameras.”
Mali to protest Ghana’s WC qualifier victory
YEN.com.gh earlier reported on the Malian Football Federation’s alleged plan to protest Ghana’s World Cup qualifier victory over the Eagles last Monday, offering detailed analysis of the situation.
According to 11v11, the major win added to Ghana’s superior head to head record over the Malians and lifted Otto Addo’s side three points ahead of Madagascar at the top of Group I, taking them to 19 points after eight matches.
Source: YEN.com.gh
