Tom Saintfiet (Gambia) wants to succeed Aliou Cissé, “It would be an honour to coach Senegal”

Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet has said he is ready to coach Africa’s finest. The Belgian technician dreams of taking charge of the Senegal national team and succeeding Aliou Cissé on the Lions’ bench.

Gambia have been one of the top teams in Africa for a number of years now. This is largely due to the arrival of Tom Saintfiet. Since his arrival in 2018, the Scorpions have changed dimension and are now much more feared by opponents. While reaffirming his commitment to Gambia, the Belgian coach has expressed his desire to coach a major African team. Senegal is the team he has in mind. Tom Saintfiet would therefore be ready to succeed Aliou Cissé as coach of the Lions of Teranga.

“It’s my big dream to work with one of Africa’s great countries in the future, and why not Senegal? They have almost the same mentality as the Gambians,” he told afrik-foot.

“It’s just a dream, but for the moment Senegal have a very good coach. Aliou Cissé is one of the best coaches in the history of African football. He’s here, he’s working hard,” continued the Belgian coach.

“I’m very happy in Gambia. When the time comes to leave Gambia, and Senegal are looking for a coach, it would be an honour to coach Senegal,” he concluded.

Since his arrival on the bench in 2018, Tom Saintfiet has taken part in 40 matches with Gambia, winning 18, drawing 9 and losing 13. He and his team will be eagerly awaited at the next edition of the African Cup of Nations.

Tom Saintfiet announces his plans for the 2023 African Cup of Nations

The next edition of the African Cup of Nations is also in the news in Africa. The 34th edition will take place in Côte d’Ivoire from 13 January to 11 February 2023. Drawn in Group C, Gambia will face Cameroon, Senegal and Guinea. A group of death that does not frighten Tom Saintfiet. In the same interview with Afrikfoot, the Belgian technician made it clear that he was confident the Gambians would win. He believes that the Scorpions will pull off a miracle, as they did at the last edition in Cameroon, where the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by the Indomitable Lions.

We’re in the group of death with reigning African champions Senegal and semi-finalists Cameroon,” admitted the 50-year-old. There’s also Guinea, with one of Germany’s top scorers (Sehrou Guirassy). It’s a very tough group. But as a coach with my team, we never go into a match with the idea of losing it. We want to win every game and qualify for the 2nd round. We know that it will be more difficult than at the last Africa Cup of Nations. There are reasons for that. We were a surprise team in Cameroon but now everyone knows our qualities. We have a few injured players, players without clubs, we’re not the same team, we only have three players who play in the first division in the eight best leagues in Europe. We don’t have top-class players like Senegal, Cameroon and Guinea. But we’re going into this tournament with the ambition of performing miracles. We’re very realistic, we know it’s going to be very difficult, but we’re here to achieve good results.

Gambia will kick off the competition on 15 January 2024 with a clash against Senegal, before facing Guinea and Cameroon respectively in the last two games of the competition’s group phase.