FEMAFOOT Set To Appoint Anthony Da Silva as New Head Coach of Mali’s Eagles
The Malian Football Federation (FEMAFOOT) are set to appoint Portuguese-French tactician Anthony Da Silva, commonly known as Tony, as the new head coach of the Mali national football team.
Da Silva will step into the role with the immediate task of guiding the Eagles through upcoming continental qualifiers and stabilizing a team that has faced immense pressure from fans hungry for silverware.
Profile: Who is Anthony Da Silva?
Born in France to Portuguese parents, the 45-year-old manager brings a blend of European tactical discipline and a baseline familiarity with African football dynamics.
Da Silva spent a decade in the youth academy of French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) before forging a successful professional career in Portugal and Romania. He made a name for himself at Portuguese sides like Chaves and Estrela da Amadora, but his peak came with CFR Cluj in Romania. As a fan-favourite and team captain, he won six major titles, including two Liga I championships and three Romanian Cups, even featuring in the UEFA Champions League.
Coaching Career & African Connection
After retiring in 2015, Da Silva transitioned to coaching, primarily managing in Portugal’s lower leagues before taking up top-flight roles, including a stint with Romanian side Politehnica Iași.
Crucially, Da Silva is no stranger to African international football. Between 2019 and 2022, he served as a video analyst and technical staff member for the Cameroon national team under his compatriot Toni Conceição. His time with the Indomitable Lions gave him vital, firsthand insight into the unique demands, terrains, and pressures of tournament football on the continent—an asset that heavily favored his appointment by FEMAFOOT.
The Florent Ibenge Ordeal: How Mali Landed on Da Silva
Da Silva’s reported appointment comes on the heels of a highly publicized coaching saga involving Congolese veteran Jean-Florent Ibenge.
Initially, the former DR Congo and RS Berkane boss was considered the absolute frontrunner for the Mali job. Negotiations between FEMAFOOT and Ibenge progressed significantly, and the manager was reportedly very close to putting pen to paper to lead the Eagles.
However, the pursuit turned into a complicated ordeal for the federation. Ibenge’s current club, Tanzanian powerhouse Azam FC, was reluctant to lose their star coach so soon after securing him. Recognizing Mali’s heavy interest, Azam counter-offered with an attractive package and assurances regarding the club’s long-term project. Following intense, late-stage negotiations, Ibenge ultimately chose to pull the plug on the Mali deal, opting instead to commit his future to Azam FC for an extended stay.
With Ibenge out of the picture, FEMAFOOT pivoted quickly to their shortlist, ultimately finalizing terms with Anthony Da Silva. The Portuguese manager will now look to make the Malian dugout his own and prove that he was the right man for the job all along.
