‘The world needs to respect African football’ — Ex-Super Eagles target slams FIFA over AFCON treatment

Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet says global football must stop treating Africa’s premier tournament as an inconvenience, after FIFA delayed the release of players ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

With the tournament less than three weeks away, FIFA ruled that clubs only needed to release players from December 15, a full week later than usual, disrupting several teams’ preparations.

Saintfiet, who once held talks about becoming manager of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, voiced his frustration at the perceived disregard for African football. “I think the world needs to respect African football,” he told Reuters, insisting that scheduling concerns are always viewed from a European perspective.

He argued that football “is not only played in England… Germany or Italy,” pointing out that many leagues in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia are in different phases of their season.

He noted that global tournaments like the World Cup force leagues in Norway, Japan and Russia to pause, yet Africa is routinely asked to adjust.

The coach added that the AFCON timing is tied to weather conditions on the continent, urging the world to accept Africa’s unique context rather than impose European preferences.

FIFA’s ruling forced Mali to cancel key friendlies, leaving Saintfiet with just six days to work with his squad before facing Zambia, hosts Morocco and Comoros in Group A.

“All our players are foreign-based players, so it’s a big consequence for us,” he said. Still, the coach remains optimistic, calling Morocco the favourites but insisting Mali “are not afraid” as they target a semi-final berth.

Saintfiet, participating in his third AFCON after leading Gambia to the 2021 quarter-finals, also added, “Many European coaches come to Africa because they have no chances in Europe… For me, coming to Africa was a real choice,” reiterating that his commitment to African football is a deliberate choice.