The 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be Mauritania’s third in their history, and coming out of it with a better report card than the previous two will be worth leaving it all on the field.

By Efosa Taiwo

The 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be Mauritania’s third in their history, and coming out of it with a better report card than the previous two will be worth leaving it all on the field.

With no win recorded yet in their previous two appearances, getting their first win in the biggest soccer event in Africa will be monumental for the Northwest African nation.

Pipping the likes of Sudan and Gabon to the qualification ticket already depicts how tough the road to Ivory Coast was for the Lions of Chinguetti, and by that mere fact proves they are no pushovers.

Coach

Amir Abdou is famous for having led the tiny Island of Comoros to their first ever AFCON finals in 2021.

The 51-year-old Marseille-born gaffer packs with him a rich experience of the nitty-gritty of African football, and if there is a coach who is used to breaking records on the continent, Abdou comes convincing.

Star Player

A chunk of responsibilities will be on the shoulders of the former Fulham striker, Aboubakar Kamara to lead Mauritania to unprecedented feats at the AFCON.

Strong with an acute positional play and a prolific goalscoring ability, Kamara is a beast for defences, as such, defenders facing him must be on their A-game to mute him.

Rising Star

A force in the midfield business for Mauritania, Abdallahi Mahmoud is one of the exciting, budding talents on the continent of Africa.

Plying his trade for Swiss club, Bellinzona on-loan from La Liga side Alaves, the central midfielder and his vision for the right passes, finesse to keep the ball, and technique to break up play will be useful for the Lions of Chinguetti in Ivory Coast.

Fixtures

Burkina Faso vs Mauritania – January 16

Mauritania vs Angola – January 20

Mauritania vs Algeria – January 23

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