kids encyclopedia robot

Mauritania national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Mauritania women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Mauritania
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 Aritz López Garai
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)
المنتخب الموريتاني (كأس العرب 2021)
The national football team of Mauritania

The Mauritania national football team, also known as Al-Murabitun or the Lions of Chinguetti, represents the country of Mauritania in men's international football games. The team is managed by the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. They are part of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Mauritania has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. However, they have made a name for themselves in regional tournaments. In the Amílcar Cabral Cup, a competition for West African teams, Mauritania finished fourth in 1980. They were also runners-up in 1995, losing a close final on penalties.

A big moment for the team came on November 18, 2018. Mauritania qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the very first time! They earned their spot in the 2019 tournament by winning 2–1 against Botswana.

History of Mauritania's Football Team

Early Matches and First Wins

Mauritania played its first international match on April 11, 1963, after gaining independence from France. They lost 6–0 to Congo Kinshasa in a tournament held in Senegal. It took four years for Mauritania to score their first goal and avoid a loss, with a 1–1 draw against Tanzania in 1967.

The team entered their first African Games qualification in 1973 but did not make it to the finals. In May 1976, they tried to qualify for the 1976 Summer Olympics but lost to Mali.

Mauritania's first attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup was for the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. They drew their first match 1–1 against Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) in March 1976. This was their first time avoiding a loss in a competitive game.

A major milestone happened on October 12, 1980, seventeen years after their first game. Mauritania won their first match ever, beating Mali 2–1 at home in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

World Cup Qualification Attempts

Mauritania has tried to qualify for the FIFA World Cup several times. For the 1998 FIFA World Cup, they faced Burkina Faso and drew the first match 0–0 at home. However, they lost the second leg and did not advance.

In the qualifiers for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Mauritania played against Tunisia. They lost both matches, with Tunisia winning 5–1 on total score.

For the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Mauritania played Zimbabwe. They lost the first game away but won the home game 2–1. This was their first victory in a World Cup qualification match, but Zimbabwe still moved forward.

The qualification process changed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Mauritania was in a group with Rwanda, Morocco, and Ethiopia. They faced tough competition and did not win any matches in this round.

Africa Cup of Nations Success

Mauritania showed great improvement in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. They beat Mauritius 1–0 in the first leg and 2–0 in the second leg to advance. They then beat Equatorial Guinea 1–0 at home. Even though they lost the return match, Equatorial Guinea was later disqualified, and Mauritania moved to the next round.

The biggest achievement came on November 18, 2018, when Mauritania qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. They finished second in their qualification group after beating Botswana 2–1. This was a historic moment for Mauritanian football. They also qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the Round of 16 in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Team Colors and Kits

The Mauritania national team usually wears an all-green home kit with yellow and red details. Their away kit is all white with green details.

Recent Matches and Schedule

Here are some of the recent match results and upcoming games for the Mauritania national football team.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

22 March Friendly Mauritania  0–2  Mali Marrakech, Morocco
19:00 UTC±0 Stadium: Stade de Marrakech
26 March Friendly Morocco  0–0  Mauritania Agadir, Morocco
19:00 UTC±0 Stadium: Adrar Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Moussa (Niger)
6 June 2026 World Cup qualification Mauritania  0–2  Sudan Nouakchott, Mauritania
16:00 UTC±0
  • Teiri Goal 15'
  • Abeid Goal 29' (o.g.)
 Stadium: Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya
Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)
9 June 2026 World Cup qualification Mauritania  0–1  Senegal Nouakchott, Mauritania
16:00 UTC±0
  • Diallo Goal 27'
 Stadium: Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya
Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)
7 September 2025 AFCON qualification Mauritania  1–0  Botswana Nouakchott, Mauritania
16:00 UTC±0
  • Amar Goal 84'
 Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium
Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)
10 September 2025 AFCON qualification Cape Verde  2–0  Mauritania Praia, Cape Verde
18:00 UTC−1
  • Mendes Goal 28' (pen.), 75'
 Stadium: Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde
Referee: Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)
11 October 2025 AFCON qualification Egypt  2–0  Mauritania Cairo, Egypt
19:00 UTC±0
Stadium: Cairo International Stadium
Referee: Alhadi Allaou (Chad)
15 October 2025 AFCON qualification Mauritania  0–1  Egypt Nouakchott, Mauritania
19:00 UTC±0
  • Adel Goal 85'
 Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium
Referee: Imtehaz Heeralall (Mauritius)
15 November 2025 AFCON qualification Botswana  1–1  Mauritania Francistown, Botswana
14:00 UTC+2
  • Baruti Goal 18'
  • Koïta Goal 7'
 Stadium: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)
19 November 2025 AFCON qualification Mauritania  1–0  Cape Verde Nouakchott, Mauritania
15:00 UTC±0
  • Soueid Goal 45+4'
 Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium
Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria)

2025 Matches

22 March 2026 World Cup qualification Togo  2–2  Mauritania Lomé, Togo
16:00 UTC±0
  • Klidjé Goal 4'
  • Denkey Goal 69'
  • Koïta Goal 52'
  • Mahmoud Goal 55'
 Stadium: Stade de Kégué
Referee: Amin Omar (Egypt)
25 March 2026 World Cup qualification Mauritania  0–2  DR Congo Nouadhibou, Mauritania
21:00 UTC±0 Stadium: Nouadhibou Municipal Stadium
September 2026 World Cup qualification Togo  v  Mauritania
September 2026 World Cup qualification Mauritania  v  South Sudan
October 2026 World Cup qualification Sudan  v  Mauritania
October 2026 World Cup qualification Senegal  v  Mauritania
November 2025 Arab Cup qualification Kuwait  v  Mauritania Doha, Qatar
--:-- UTC+3 Stadium: TBD

Coaches of the National Team

Aritz López Garai, Celta de Vigo 2009
Aritz López Garai became the manager of the national football team of Mauritania

Many coaches have led the Mauritania national football team over the years. Here are some of them:

  • 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 (2022–2024)
  • Spain Aritz López Garai (2025–present)

Players of the Mauritania Team

Current Squad Members

These players were chosen for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches in November 2024.

Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of November 15, 2024, after the match against Cape Verde.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
16 1GK Babacar Niasse (1996-12-20) 20 December 1996 (age 28) 26 0 France Guingamp
22 1GK Mamadou Diop (2000-01-03) 3 January 2000 (age 25) 2 0 France Grenoble
1 1GK M'Backé N'Diaye (1994-12-19) 19 December 1994 (age 30) 5 0 Mauritania Nouakchott Kings
2 2DF Khadim Diaw (1998-07-07) 7 July 1998 (age 27) 18 0 Sudan Al-Hilal
5 2DF Lamine Ba (1997-08-24) 24 August 1997 (age 27) 19 1 Croatia Varaždin
13 2DF Nouh Mohamed El Abd (2000-12-24) 24 December 2000 (age 24) 19 1 Morocco AS FAR
18 2DF Houssen Abderrahmane (1995-02-03) 3 February 1995 (age 30) 19 0 France Cannes
21 2DF El Hassan Houeibib (1993-10-31) 31 October 1993 (age 31) 30 1 Morocco AS FAR
24 2DF Demine Saleck (1994-11-30) 30 November 1994 (age 30) 9 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou
8 3MF Mouhsine Bodda (1997-07-18) 18 July 1997 (age 28) 43 1 Morocco Raja
9 3MF Beyatt Lekweiry (2005-04-11) 11 April 2005 (age 20) 5 0 Switzerland Lausanne-Sport
12 3MF Bakari Camara (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 (age 31) 11 0 France Nancy
17 3MF Abdallahi Mahmoud (2000-05-04) 4 May 2000 (age 25) 37 1 Kuwait Al-Arabi
28 3MF Oumar Ngom (2004-03-09) 9 March 2004 (age 21) 10 0 France Pau
7 4FW Aboubakary Koïta (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 (age 26) 15 2 Greece AEK Athens
10 4FW Idrissa Thiam (2000-09-02) 2 September 2000 (age 24) 34 1 Qatar Al Kharaitiyat
11 4FW Mamadou Sy (2000-12-31) 31 December 2000 (age 24) 10 1 Rwanda APR
15 4FW Pape Ndiaga Yade (2000-01-05) 5 January 2000 (age 25) 8 0 Moldova Sheriff Tiraspol
19 4FW Sidi Bouna Amar (1998-12-31) 31 December 1998 (age 26) 23 2 Morocco Wydad
23 4FW Mouhamed Soueid (1991-12-31) 31 December 1991 (age 33) 29 4 Iraq Hudood
25 4FW Pape Ibnou Ba (1993-01-05) 5 January 1993 (age 32) 26 2 France Troyes
27 4FW Dawda Camara (2002-11-04) 4 November 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Spain Girona

Other Players Called Up Recently

These players were also called up for Mauritania in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Namori Diaw (1994-12-30) 30 December 1994 (age 30) 24 0 Mauritania Tevragh-Zeina v.  Senegal, 9 June 2024
DF Aly Abeid (captain) (1997-12-11) 11 December 1997 (age 27) 65 3 Romania CFR Cluj v.  Cape Verde, 19 November 2024 INJ
DF Mohamed Dellahi Yali (1997-11-01) 1 November 1997 (age 27) 73 3 Iraq Al-Hudood v.  Botswana, 15 November 2024 INJ
DF Ibrahima Keita (2001-11-08) 8 November 2001 (age 23) 25 0 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe v.  Botswana, 15 November 2024 INJ
DF Harouna Abou Demba (1991-12-31) 31 December 1991 (age 33) 21 0 France Villefranche v.  Egypt, 15 October 2024
DF Said Imigene (2005-01-16) 16 January 2005 (age 20) 0 0 Spain Leganés v.  Cape Verde, 10 September 2024
DF Lassana Diakhaby (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 29) 3 0 France Versailles v.  Senegal, 9 June 2024
DF Lemrabott El Hacen (1997-03-24) 24 March 1997 (age 28) 9 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou v.  Morocco, 26 March 2024
MF Guessouma Fofana (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 (age 32) 28 0 Sudan Al Hilal v.  Cape Verde, 19 November 2024 INJ
MF Maata Magassa (2003-10-31) 31 October 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Egypt ZED FC v.  Egypt, 11 October 2024 INJ
FW Hemeya Tanjy (1998-05-01) 1 May 1998 (age 27) 47 7 Libya Al Hilal v.  Egypt, 15 October 2024
FW Aboubakar Kamara (1995-03-07) 7 March 1995 (age 30) 28 8 Iran Sepahan v.  Egypt, 15 October 2024
FW Mamadou Diallo (1996-12-03) 3 December 1996 (age 28) 1 0 France Châteauroux v.  Egypt, 15 October 2024
FW Souleymane Anne (1997-12-05) 5 December 1997 (age 27) 14 1 Qatar Al Kharaitiyat v.  Cape Verde, 10 September 2024

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.

Team Records

These tables show the players who have played the most games and scored the most goals for Mauritania. Players in bold are still playing for the national team.

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

Tournament History

Africa Cup of Nations Record

Mauritania has participated in the Africa Cup of Nations three times.

Africa Cup of Nations record
Appearances: 3
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Egypt 2019 Group stage 19th 3 0 2 1 1 4
Cameroon 2021 Group stage 24th 3 0 0 3 0 7
Ivory Coast 2023 Round of 16 16th 4 1 0 3 3 5
Total Round of 16 3/35 10 1 2 7 4 16

African Nations Championship Record

This tournament is for players who play in their home country's leagues.

African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 3
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
South Africa 2014 Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 4 8
Morocco 2018 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 0 6
Algeria 2022 Quarter-finals 7th 3 1 1 1 1 1
Total Quarter-finals 3/7 9 1 1 7 5 15

FIFA Arab Cup Record

Mauritania has played in the FIFA Arab Cup twice.

FIFA Arab Cup record
Appearances: 2
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Saudi Arabia 1985 Group stage 5th 2 0 0 2 0 4
Qatar 2021 Group stage 11th 3 1 0 2 3 7
Total Group stage 2/10 5 1 0 4 3 11

Honors and Awards

Regional Achievements

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

Team Awards

  • African National Team of the Year: 2018

See also

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

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Mauritania national football team Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.