A long-standing partnership between Mali’s football federation and kit supplier Airness has been thrown into uncertainty after the company’s president claimed he personally funded the salaries of national team coaches for five years.
The revelation came in an open letter from Airness founder Malamine Koné, who also proposed an early termination of the company’s contract with the Malian Football Federation (Femafoot), despite the deal originally running until 2028.
Airness has been the official kit supplier of the Malian national team since 2005, forming a 21-year relationship with Femafoot that is now facing its most serious strain.
In his letter, Koné defended his commitment to Malian football and insisted his involvement went far beyond commercial interests, describing his contribution as rooted in patriotism and sacrifice during difficult periods for the sport in the country.
The most striking claim in his statement relates to financial support he says he provided directly to the national team setup.
“Dear compatriots, it is important to remember that beyond the financial contributions and equipment provided over the years, I personally covered the salaries of the various coaches of the Malian national team for five years.
“An exceptional effort made discreetly, solely out of love for my country and a desire to support Malian football through difficult times.”
The claim has raised questions about the financial stability of Malian football structures and the extent to which external partners have been supporting key operational costs within the national team system.
It is not yet clear whether former Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet, who was dismissed at the end of April, was among those whose salaries were allegedly covered by Airness.
Reports had previously suggested he went several months without receiving wages prior to his departure.
Alongside the financial disclosures, Koné said he had proposed an amicable termination of the existing contract with Femafoot, which would allow the federation to reorganise its commercial partnerships.
“It is in the interest of appeasement and to preserve the best interests of Malian football that I recently proposed an amicable termination of the current contract, which was due to run until 2028, thus allowing the new management to organize a new tender process under the best possible conditions.”
He also indicated that he was prepared to absorb what he described as “equipment budget overruns”, signalling a willingness to settle outstanding financial issues as part of the exit process.
The proposal, if accepted, would open the door for a new kit supplier to be appointed through a tender process.
It comes at a time of wider uncertainty for Malian football, with the national team currently without a permanent head coach and discussions reportedly ongoing with candidates including Florent Ibenge and Anthony Silva.
