Tony da Silva has been appointed head coach of the Mali national team.

Tony da Silva, former player and captain of CFR Cluj, has been officially appointed as the head coach of the Mali national team, at the age of 45. The Portuguese will replace Belgian Tom Saintfiet and will lead the team in the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027. The Malian Football Federation conducted an extensive selection process between April 28 and May 26, ultimately choosing Tony, despite the initial intention to hire Congolese coach Florent Ibenge, who withdrew for family reasons.

The federation's statement emphasizes that the new technical staff will work to meet the expectations of the sports public in Mali. Tony da Silva's objective is to qualify the team for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, with Mali being in Group K alongside Liberia, Rwanda, and Cape Verde.