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Mauritania national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Mauritania women's national football team.
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Mauritania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Al-Murabitun (الْمُرَابِطُون)
Lions of Chinguetti
Association Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach Amir Abdou
Captain Aly Abeid
Most caps Souleymane Diallo (76)
Top scorer Bessam (13)
Home stadium Stade Olympique de Nouakchott
FIFA code MTN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 101 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 81 (July 2017)
Lowest 206 (November 2012 – January 2013)
Elo ranking
Current 116 Increase 15 (3 March 2019)
Highest 116 (29 January 2019)
Lowest 182 (bef. 22 November 1993)
First international
 Malagasy Republic 5–1 Mauritania 
(Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire; 25 December 1961)
Biggest win
 Somalia 2–8 Mauritania 
(Beirut, Lebanon; 27 December 2006)
Biggest defeat
 Guinea 14–0 Mauritania 
(Guinea; 20 May 1972)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances 3 (first in 2019)
Best result Round of 16 (2023)
FIFA Arab Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 1985)
Best result Group stage (1985, 2021)

The Mauritania national football team (Arabic: منتخب مُورِيتَانْيَا لِكُرَةِ الْقَدَم), nicknamed Al-Murabitun in the reference to Almoravid dynasty, represents Mauritania in men's international football. It is controlled by the Féderation de Football de la République Islamique de Mauritanie, and is a member of the Confederation of African Football. They have not qualified for the FIFA World Cup. However, in the Amílcar Cabral Cup, a regional tournament for West Africa, Mauritania came fourth in 1980 on hosting the competition. The national football team of Mauritania later runners-up in 1995, losing on penalties to Sierra Leone after the final finished 0–0.

On 18 November 2018, Mauritania qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in history, after they won 2–1 against Botswana to seal a spot in the 2019 tournament.

History

1963–80

Mauritania played its first match after independence from France on 11 April 1963, against Congo Kinshasa (also making their debut) and lost 6–0. The match was held in Dakar, Senegal as part of the L'Amitié tournament between African sides. It also saw the debuts of Chad, Liberia and Niger. Mauritania lost its three other matches in the tournament: 2–0 to the Ivory Coast, 4–0 to Tunisia and 7–0 to Congo Brazzaville.

Mauritania's first goal and avoidance of defeat came four years after their debut, in 1967 with a 1–1 draw away in Tanzania. This was their first match since the L'Amitié tournament in 1963.

Mauritania entered their first African Games qualification campaign, in an aim to reach the 1973 finals in Nigeria. They were drawn in a group against Mali and Guinea in Guinea. The first game was lost 11–0 to Mali, and on 20 May Mauritania lost 14–0 to Guinea. Mauritania did not qualify.

In May 1976 Mauritania entered qualification for the football at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Canada. They were drawn against neighbouring Mali in a two-legged qualifier. The first leg was lost 6–0 away on 1 May, and the second leg was lost 1–0 at home on 18 May. Mali did not qualify for the finals.

Mauritania's first entrance into World Cup qualification was an attempt to reach the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. In March 1976 they were one of four countries put into two preliminary matches at the start of the African qualification campaign. Mauritania's preliminary was a two-legged match against the Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and they drew the first match 1–1 away in Ouagadougou on 13 March. This was their first competitive avoidance of defeat, and their first avoidance of defeat since 1967. On 28 March, Mauritania lost their home leg in Nouakchott 2–0 and the Upper Volta advanced 3–1 on aggregate.

On 12 October 1980, seventeen years after their first game, Mauritania won for the first time by beating Mali 2–1 at home in a qualifier for the African Cup of Nations. Mali won 3–2 on aggregate having won the first leg 2–0.

1998 FIFA World Cup qualification

Mauritania entered qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, which was their first entry in twenty years and second overall. Again, they were drawn to face Burkina Faso in a two-legged preliminary. The first leg was played at home in Nouakchott in front of 15,000 people on 31 May 1996, one day before any other matches in the round. The match finished 0–0. The second leg was played at the Stade du 4-Aout in Ouagadougou on 16 June 1996 in front of 13,000 people. Burkina Faso won 2–0 to advance to the final group phase.

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

Mauritania entered the qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and were placed in a preliminary against Tunisia, who had qualified for the previous tournament. On 7 April 2000 they hosted Tunisia at the Stade Olympique in Nouakchott. A crowd of 10,000 saw Tunisia win 2–1 with second-half goals from Radhi Jaidi and Hassen Gabsi. In the second leg on 22 April 2000, Mauritania were beaten 3–0 at the Stade El Menzah in Tunis. The match was watched by only 3,000, despite a capacity of 45,000 in the ground. Tunisia won 5–1 on aggregate and later qualified for the finals in South Korea and Japan.

2006 FIFA World Cup qualification

Mauritania were drawn with Zimbabwe in the preliminary of the African section of the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 12 October 2003 they lost the away leg 3–0 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare in front of 55,000 people. In the home return at the Stade Olympique on 14 November 2003, Mauritania scored twice in the opening ten minutes to win 2–1, their first victory in a World Cup match. However, Zimbabwe advanced 4–2 on aggregate.

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

The African qualification process was altered for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Only the six lowest-ranked nations played a preliminary, a selection which for the first time did not include Mauritania. Mauritania played in Group 8 of the second qualifying round against Rwanda, Morocco and Ethiopia, and started with an away match at the Stade Regional Nyamirambo in Kigali, Rwanda on 31 May 2008. They lost 3–0 in front of 12,000 people. The first home match was on 7 June at the Stade Nacional in Nouakchott against Morocco. The Moroccans scored two in each half before a late penalty by Dominique da Silva of Mauritania made the game 4–1.

On 13 June 2008 Mauritania hosted Ethiopia at the Stade Nacional and lost 1–0 after an injury-time winner from Saladin Said. On 22 June Mauritania lost 6–1 in the away match versus Ethiopia at the Addis Ababa Stadium. The Ethiopian forwards Fikru Tefera and Andualem Nigussie scored two goals each in a match which also saw Ba Yaoub of Mauritania sent off after 37 minutes, conceding a penalty to Fikru. The game was 1–1 at half time. In September 2008 Ethiopia were expelled from the tournament due to government interferences in their football association and all of their results annulled.

Only 1,000 people saw Mauritania's next game at the Stade Nacional as they were beaten 1–0 by Rwanda on 6 September with a late goal by Bobo Bola. Mauritania finished their group campaign at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Morocco. Like the home game against the Moroccans, Mauritania were 4–0 down but scored the last goal, this time by Dahmed Ould Teguedi. Although the Moroccan stadium had a capacity of 52,000, only 1,472 saw the match.

2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Mauritania beat Mauritius 1–0 in the first leg of a preliminary round qualifier for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Nouakchott. SC Bastia's midfielder Adama Ba scored the only goal midway through the first half. The return leg in Curepipe ended 2–0 in favour of Mauritania. Scorers were Demba Sow and Moulaye Ahmed Bessam.

In the first round, first leg match, Mauritania beat visitors Equatorial Guinea 1–0 in Nouakchott. The two sides headed into the break scoreless in their match played at Office du Complexe Olympique de Nouakchott. Hosts Mauritania broke the deadlock in the 76th minute through their Tunisian-based striker Ismaël Diakité. In the return match Equatorial Guinea beat Mauritania 3–0 in Malabo. Equatorial Guinea won 3–1 on aggregate. However, on 3 July 2014, the CAF announced that Equatorial Guinea were disqualified for fielding the ineligible player Thierry Fidjeu in the tie, and as a result, Mauritania advanced to the second round. Equatorial Guinea later qualified for the final tournament as replacement hosts.

2019 Africa Cup of Nations

On 18 November 2018, Mauritania qualified to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history, after they won 2–1 against Botswana, coming second in qualification Group I.

Team image

The Mauritania national team home kit is all green yellow red trim, and the away kit is all white with green trim.

Results and fixtures

Main article: Mauritania national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023

2024

Coaches

  • Mauritania Mohamed Harouna (1982–1983)
  • West Germany Gerhard Schmidt (1985)
  • Mauritania Birama Gaye (2000)
  • France Noël Tosi (2003–2004)
  • Mauritania Moustapha Sall (2006–2007)
  • Mauritania Birama Gaye (2007)
  • France Alain Moizan (2008)
  • Mauritania Mohamed Harouna (2008)
  • Mauritania Omar Hassan (2010)
  • Mauritania Moustapha Sall (2010–2012)
  • France Patrice Neveu (2012–2014)
  • France Corentin Martins (2014–2021)
  • France Gérard Buscher (2021)
  • France Didier Gomes Da Rosa (2021–2022)
  • Comoros Amir Abdou (2022–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Sudan and Senegal on 6 and 9 June 2024.

Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2024, after the match against Senegal.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Namori Diaw (1994-12-30) 30 December 1994 (age 29) 24 0 Mauritania Tevragh-Zeina
1GK Babacar Niasse (1996-12-20) 20 December 1996 (age 28) 22 0 France Guingamp
1GK Mamadou Diop (2000-01-03) 3 January 2000 (age 24) 0 0 France Grenoble
2DF Mohamed Dellahi Yali (1997-11-01) 1 November 1997 (age 27) 73 3 Iraq Al-Hudood
2DF Aly Abeid (captain) (1997-12-11) 11 December 1997 (age 27) 65 3 Romania UTA Arad
2DF El Hassan Houeibib (1993-10-31) 31 October 1993 (age 31) 24 1 Morocco AS FAR
2DF Ibrahima Keita (2001-11-08) 8 November 2001 (age 23) 22 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe
2DF Lamine Ba (1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 (age 27) 14 1 Croatia Varaždin
2DF Khadim Diaw (1998-07-07) 7 July 1998 (age 26) 14 0 Sudan Al-Hilal
2DF Nouh Mohamed El Abd (2000-12-24) 24 December 2000 (age 24) 14 1 Mauritania Nouadhibou
2DF Houssen Abderrahmane (1995-02-03) 3 February 1995 (age 29) 4 0 France Marignane Gignac
3MF Mouhsine Bodda (1997-07-18) 18 July 1997 (age 27) 37 1 Morocco Raja
3MF Abdallahi Mahmoud (2000-05-04) 4 May 2000 (age 24) 34 1 Kuwait Al-Arabi
3MF Guessouma Fofana (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 (age 32) 27 0 Cyprus Doxa Katokopias
3MF Sidi Bouna Amar (1998-12-31) 31 December 1998 (age 25) 17 1 Morocco Wydad
3MF Bakari Camara (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 (age 30) 7 0 France Villefranche
3MF Oumar Ngom (2004-03-09) 9 March 2004 (age 20) 4 0 France Pau
4FW Hemeya Tanjy (1998-05-01) 1 May 1998 (age 26) 46 7 Mauritania Nouadhibou
4FW Mouhamed Soueid (1991-12-31) 31 December 1991 (age 32) 28 3 Iraq Al-Talaba
4FW Idrissa Thiam (2000-09-02) 2 September 2000 (age 24) 28 1 Qatar Mesaimeer
4FW Aboubakar Kamara (1995-03-07) 7 March 1995 (age 29) 26 8 Iran Sepahan
4FW Pape Ibnou Ba (1993-01-05) 5 January 1993 (age 31) 24 2 France Troyes
4FW Aboubakary Koïta (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 26) 9 1 Greece AEK Athens
4FW Pape Ndiaga Yade (2000-01-05) 5 January 2000 (age 24) 3 0 France Quevilly-Rouen

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Mauritania in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK M'Backé N'Diaye (1994-12-19) 19 December 1994 (age 30) 5 0 Mauritania Nouakchott Kings 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
GK Babacar Diop (1995-09-17) 17 September 1995 (age 29) 13 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
GK Abderrahmane Sarr (2005-04-01) 1 April 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Mauritania ASAC Concorde 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Bakary N'Diaye (1998-11-26) 26 November 1998 (age 26) 43 1 Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Abdoulkader Thiam (1998-10-03) 3 October 1998 (age 26) 12 0 France Cholet 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Lemrabott El Hacen (1997-03-24) 24 March 1997 (age 27) 9 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Soukrana Mheimid (1999-06-19) 19 June 1999 (age 25) 8 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Demine Saleck (1994-11-30) 30 November 1994 (age 30) 5 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
DF Lassana Diakhaby (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28) 2 0 France Versailles 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF Omaré Gassama (1995-10-01) 1 October 1995 (age 29) 8 0 France Chateauroux 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
MF El Hadji Ba (1993-03-05) 5 March 1993 (age 31) 6 0 Cyprus Apollon Limassol 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Sidi Ahmed El Abd (2001-05-05) 5 May 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Mauritania Nouakchott Kings 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
MF Moctar Sidi El Hacen (1997-12-31) 31 December 1997 (age 26) 54 9 Qatar Mesaimeer 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF Yacoub Sidi Ethmane (1995-12-10) 10 December 1995 (age 29) 5 1 Libya Al Khoms 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF Mohamed Lemine (2002-01-06) 6 January 2002 (age 22) 3 0 Albania Egnatia 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
MF Mohamed Saïd (2000-02-25) 25 February 2000 (age 24) 0 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
FW Souleymane Anne (1997-12-05) 5 December 1997 (age 27) 14 1 Belgium Deinze v.  Morocco, 26 March 2024
FW Souleymane Doukara (1991-09-29) 29 September 1991 (age 33) 9 0 Turkey Mağusa Türk Gücü 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Yassine Cheikh El Welly (1998-10-10) 10 October 1998 (age 26) 6 0 Tunisia Union Monastirienne 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE
FW El Mami Tetah (2001-11-12) 12 November 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Bulgaria Arda 2023 Africa Cup of Nations PRE

DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player has retired from international football.
SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records

Players in bold are still active with Mauritania.

Most appearances

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Souleymane Diallo 76 0 2006–2019
2 Mohamed Dellahi Yali 75 3 2015–present
3 Ismaël Diakité 68 9 2008–2022
4 Aly Abeid 67 3 2015–present
5 Bessam 66 13 2013–2023
6 Abdoulaye Gaye 58 2 2012–2020
7 Hacen El Ide 54 9 2013–present
8 Abdoul Ba 52 0 2013–2022
9 Moustapha Diaw 50 1 2015–2021
10 Adama Ba 48 6 2013–2022
Hemeya Tanjy 48 7 2018–present

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Bessam 13 66 0.2 2013–2023
2 Hacen El Ide 9 54 0.17 2013–present
Ismaël Diakité 9 68 0.13 2008–2022
4 Aboubakar Kamara 8 28 0.29 2021–present
5 Hemeya Tanjy 7 48 0.15 2018–present
6 Boubacar Bagili 6 35 0.17 2015–2019
Adama Ba 6 48 0.13 2013–2022
8 Ahmed Sidibé 5 19 0.26 1994–2008
Brahim Ould Malha 5 23 0.22 1994–2002
Mamadou Niass 5 45 0.11 2013–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1958 Part of France Part of France
1962 to 1970 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
West Germany 1974 Did not enter Did not enter
Argentina 1978 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 3
Spain 1982 Did not enter Did not enter
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994 Withdrew Withdrew
France 1998 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 0 2
South Korea Japan 2002 2 0 0 2 1 5
Germany 2006 2 1 0 1 2 4
South Africa 2010 4 0 0 4 2 12
Brazil 2014 Did not enter Did not enter
Russia 2018 Did not qualify 4 1 1 2 7 5
Qatar 2022 6 0 2 4 2 11
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 4 0 1 3 0 5
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/13 26 2 6 18 15 47

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1896 – 1960 Part of France
Japan 1964 Did not enter
Mexico 1968
West Germany 1972
Canada 1976 Did not qualify
Soviet Union 1980 Did not enter
United States 1984 Did not qualify
South Korea 1988 Did not enter
Spain 1992 Did not qualify
United States 1996 Did not enter
Australia 2000
Greece 2004
China 2008
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 2016 Did not qualify
Japan 2020
France 2024
Total 0/28
  • Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since the 1992 edition.

Other records

Year Stage Position
Tunisia 7th November Cup 1995 Group stage 3rd
Senegal Jeux de l’Amitié 1963 Group stage 16th
Total 0 titles

Honours

Regional

  • Amílcar Cabral Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 1995

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Mauritania para niños

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