The Gambia Football Federation has extended the contract of coach Tom Saintfiet after guiding the national team to a historic Africa Cup of Nations qualification. 

The new five year contract will run through the end of May 2026.

Saintfiet, 48, was appointed as head coach of The Scorpions in July 2018 after previously managing Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi and Togo.

GFF president Lamin Kaba Bajo said it was the right time to extend the deal, after the coach helped the country achieve a significant achievement.

“He has proven his worth and the whole football family is satisfied with him. This new contract will avail us the opportunity for continuity and he will lead us to the 2022 Afcon Finals, the 2023 and 2025 editions as well as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers,” Bajo was quoted by GFF website.

“He has a lot of qualities and the competence to transform the team to be in par with the big footballing nations, whom he has beaten both home and away.

“We’re still celebrating, and this is the best time to continue having fulfilled a cardinal condition of his contract in completing the task.”

In his response, the excited Belgian thanked all who made the feat possible while assuring that the Scorpions’ dream is to “go further” after Cameroon 2022.

Meanwhile The Scorpions will play the Democratic Republic of Congo in their final AFCON qualifying match at the Stade de Franceville on Monday.