Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has gone on the front foot. He did not hold back.
He challenged the call to move the Africa Cup of Nations to every four years. He believes the game in Africa now faces another hard tackle.
He spoke in Rabat before Mali take on Morocco. The Belgian coach sounded upset. He felt something bigger than football pushed the change.
“I am very shocked with it and very disappointed. It is the pride of African football, with the best players in African football,” the Belgian told reporters in Rabat ahead of Friday’s AFCON clash between Mali and Morocco.
On the break, he accused Europe and FIFA of pulling the strings. He said it hurt to see African tradition shifted for profit.
“To take it away and make it every four years, I could understand if it was a request for any reason from Africa, but it is all instructed by the big people from (European governing body) UEFA, the big clubs in Europe and also FIFA and that makes it so sad.”
Saintfiet knows African football well. He guided Gambia to a historic quarter-final run in 2022.
Now with Mali, he leads another hungry side. He said history matters. He does not want AFCON to lose its heartbeat.
“We fought for so long to be respected, to then listen to Europe to change your history — because this is a history going back 68 years — only because of financial requests from clubs who use the load on players as the excuse while they create a World Cup with 48 teams, a Champions League with no champions.”
He added humor. But the frustration remained clear.
“If you don’t get relegated in England you almost get into Europe, it is so stupid,” he joked.
Then he switched play again. He argued that player-welfare claims sound fake. He said more competitions pile pressure. Not AFCON.
“If you want to protect players then you play the Champions League with only the champions. You don’t create more competitions with more load. Then you can still play AFCON every two years.
“Africa is the biggest football continent in the world, all the big stars in Europe are Africans, so I think we disrespect (Africa) by going to every four years.
“I am very sad about that –- I hoped that the love for Africa would win over the pressure of Europe.”
As the whistle edges closer for Mali’s clash with Morocco, Saintfiet’s words echo. He wants fight. He wants respect. And he wants AFCON to stay close to its roots.
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