#14. Mauritania
Population: 4.244,878
Nickname: Lions of Chinguetti
Appearances: 3rd
Last Appearance: 2021
Coach: Amir Abdou
Best AFCON results: Group Stage (2019,2021)
Skipper: Aboubakar Kamara
Player to watch: Aboubakary Koita
Region: WAFU
CAF Rankings: 22
FIFA Rankings: 105
Most caps: Souleymane Diallo (79)
Most goals: Bessam (13)
Mauritania has been the most improved nation in football as the minnows are ranked 105 by FIFA. It is an incredible feat for a country that was ranked 203 a decade ago.
Mauritania has a club (Nouadhibou) in the CAF Champions League for the first time which shows how they have improved.
In the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, Mauritania finished ahead of Gabon and Sudan to secure their 3rd consecutive spot in AFCON. Mauritania began the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on a poor note as they lost 2-0 to Dr Congo and drew goalless against South Sudan.
The Lions of Chinguetti have been punching above their weight in African football since 2018.
St Truiden forward, Aboubakary Koita, is the man Mauritania expects to deliver at the AFCON.
The Core of the Team
Babacar Mbaye is Mauritania’s first-choice goalkeeper with Bakary N’diaye and El Abd Nouh protecting him at the back
Bodda Mouhsine will be the leader of Mauritanian’s midfield.
Aboubakary Koita and Abdallahi Mahmoud will serve as the main attackers for the Mauritanians.
Probable line up
4-3-3
Mbaye
Keita, N’diaye, El Abd Nouh, Abeid
Fofana, Mouhsine, Anne
Koita, Tany, Mahmoud
Notable legends
Souleymane Diallo, Bessam, Yali Dellahi, Aly Abeid, Babacar Diop
Expectations
Group Stage Exit
Fixtures
Burkina Faso v Mauritania
Mauritania v Angola
Mauritania v Algeria
