'My ambition was to work with giants: Saintfiet's unfulfilled dream to coach Ghana revealed

Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet has opened up about his long-held ambition to lead Ghana’s Black Stars, describing it as an unfulfilled dream rooted in his belief in the team’s potential to compete at the highest level on the global stage.

The Belgian revealed he was in advanced talks for the role in early 2024 before the Ghana Football Association (GFA) appointed Otto Addo.

In a reflective interview, Saintfiet shared, “As I said earlier, my ambition as a young coach when I started was to work with the giants of African football and to go to the big stages — to the World Cup.” He emphasised that his interest was never financially motivated but driven by a desire to achieve historic success with a top African nation.

Saintfiet, who notably guided The Gambia to two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, pointed to Ghana’s rich talent pool and near-miss in the 2010 World Cup as evidence of the team’s potential. “Ghana was very close to that in 2010. If it wasn’t for that Suarez handball, Ghana would have already made it to the semifinal,” he noted, underscoring his view that the Black Stars remain capable of reaching a World Cup semifinal.

Despite his disappointment, Saintfiet expressed no bitterness and even praised current coach Otto Addo, hinting at a willingness to collaborate in the future.

His revelation offers a glimpse into the personal aspirations that drive top coaches and the “what if” scenarios that shape international football landscapes.

Saintfiet recently faced Ghana in World Cup qualifying, with the Black Stars securing a narrow 1–0 victory over his Mali side in Accra.

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