Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet has stepped down as the head coach of The Gambia after the team’s early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The West African side finished at the bottom of Group C, losing all three games, including a 3-2 defeat by Cameroon in their final match.

Appointed in 2018, Saintfiet previously guided The Gambia to the quarter-finals of the 2021 AFCON, marking an impressive debut. However, the team couldn’t replicate that success in Ivory Coast this time round.

The Gambia, ranked 168th globally when Saintfiet took charge, improved to 126th under his tenure. Despite being the lowest-ranked team in the 2021 finals, they defeated Mauritania, Tunisia, and Guinea to reach the quarter-finals, where they were eventually defeated by hosts Cameroon.

In the 2023 AFCON, The Gambia started with a 3-0 loss to defending champions Senegal and followed with a 1-0 defeat against fellow West Africans Guinea. Saintfiet, who boasts coaching experience across four different FIFA confederations, faced challenges in the team’s build-up to the tournament.

The squad was caught in last September’s earthquake in Marrakesh, and a bonus payment dispute led to a pre-tournament training session boycott. Additionally, their flight to Ivory Coast was aborted due to a pressurisation issue, raising safety concerns.

The Gambia Football Federation expressed gratitude for Saintfiet’s service, acknowledging the departure of a skilled tactician. The search for a new coach now begins as The Gambia reflects on the hurdles faced during their challenging AFCON journey.