Fousseni Diawara declares interest to lead Mali senior team

Former Mali international Fousseni Diawara has declared his intention to head the senior national team.

With Tom Saintfiet officially dismissed following the election of the new president of the Malian Football Federation, the organization is now searching for its new national team coach.

Applications have even been opened and the question now is who will be the next manager of the Eagles.

One name has been circulating in the press in recent weeks with Diawara in pole position to get the job.

A former assistant to Mohamed Magassouba, he announced his candidacy on Monday with the intention transforming the Mali side.

“I want to confirm my desire to obtain this coaching position.

“I have been working with the national team for several years. I had a brief stint with Guinea.

“I did a lot of soul-searching, I worked hard, and then I was able to begin a new chapter with the U23 team,” Diawara stated on the set of Talents d’Afrique on Canal+ Sport.

“I was a manager, then an assistant coach, so you could see it as a logical progression.

“We’re trying to bring continuity to what we’re doing, to develop this team, to take it as far as possible, to achieve ambitious goals.

“We almost succeeded with Mohamed Magassouba in the World Cup playoffs.

“What I can say is that I’m ready; I have an experienced staff. My application will be submitted to the federation soon.

Mali are yet to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Diawara will set his sight on the next project in 2030 to be co-hosted by Portugal, Spain and Morocco.

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