Our fifty-year-old compatriot had been national coach of Gambia since the summer of 2018 and had a contract there until mid-2026. “Gambia will miss an excellent tactician,” said a short statement from the federation. “After 5.5 years of serving our country, we would like to wish you all the best for the future.” Although other African countries have already inquired, he has a concrete offer from an Asian country in his pocket.
On the final day in group C, they lost 2-3 to Cameroon after a crazy final match on Tuesday, making elimination a fact, after previous defeats against Senegal and Guinea in this tough group. So it was a sad farewell, two years after Saintfiet and Gambia had caused the surprise with a quarter-final place at the previous edition of the Africa Cup.
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
Click here to adjust your preferences
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
Click here to adjust your preferences
Before the start of this tournament, the Gambian federation escaped a tragedy, after the plane on which it wanted to travel to Ivory Coast had to return shortly after departure due to an oxygen problem on board. “We were afraid to die,” said Saintfiet. “If we had been on that flight for half an hour, we would all be dead.”
Tom Saintfiet has already coached a number of national teams, especially in Africa. He was at the helm of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Yemen, Malawi, Togo, Bangladesh and Trinidad and Tobago. At the end of April 2018, he was fired from Malta after more than six months. As a coach, he says he dreams of an opportunity with a Belgian first division team. In his own country he only coached teams from the lower divisions.
© AFP
Senegal clear to round of 16
Senegal qualified for the eighth finals at the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday evening as the winner of group C. The defending champions only needed a 0-2 win against Guinea to finish their group with a perfect nine out of nine.
Former Antwerp defender Abdoulaye Seck (61.) and Iliman Ndiaye (90.) shot their country to victory. Guinea finishes in third place with four points and is also qualified for the next round as one of the four best third places.
In the same group, top country Cameroon saved its skin at the last minute against Tom Saintfiet’s Gambia. In a must-win match, the Indomitable Lions romped to a crucial victory. After a crazy ending, in which the VAR rejected Gambia’s ultimate equalizer, they won 2-3. Thanks to the victory and Guinea’s defeat against Senegal, Cameroon jumps to second place on the final match day and qualifies for the knockout phase. The tournament is over for Gambia and Saintfiet, who did not manage to score a single point.
The Africa Cup is over for Amoura (l.). — © AFP
Gambia and Cameroon waited until after halftime to get the scoring going. Both teams had scored once each until the final phase of the match and seemed to be heading for a draw, but still created an insane ending. Gambia – with Alieu Fadera from Genk between the lines – scored the 2-1, but immediately canceled out its lead with an own goal. Cameroon scored a redeeming 2-3 in the first minute of added time and seemed to be on its way to the knockout phase, until Gambian Muhammed Sanneh scored the 3-3 in the closing seconds. However, the VAR considered the goal and, to the delight of Cameroon, disallowed it due to handball.
A lot of ‘Belgians’ are going home
In group D, Algeria lost to Mauritania (1-0), ending last. Striker Mohamed Amoura, replaced after 69 minutes, returns to Union. It is now also certain that Ghana is out of the tournament. Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Joseph Paintsil (Genk) and the injured Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht) will soon land in Belgium again. Nurio (AA Gent), Koffi (Charleroi), Diawara (Anderlecht) and Konaté (KV Mechelen) will make their rounds. advance to the 1/8th finals, Koita (STVV) has to wait for today’s last group matches. Tanzania-Congo and South Africa-Tunisia, among others, are still on the agenda.
