AFCON 2023: key facts about Mauritania

• The Country

 

Capital: Nouakchott

Area: 1,030,700 km2

Population: 4,615,000 inhabitants

Official language: Arabic

Demonym: Mauritanian

Motto: Honour, Fraternity, Justice

Team nickname: the Mourabitounes

 

• Mauritania and the AFCON

 

Titles: 0

Finals: 0

Appearances before AFCON 2023: 2

Hosts: 0

 

• AFCON history

 

2019: knocked out in the group stage

2021: knocked out in the group stage

 

• AFCON record

 

6 matches

0 wins

2 draws

4 defeats

1 goal scored

11 goals conceded

 

Player to watch: Aboubakar Koita

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With just one goal scored at the AFCON in two appearances, Mauritania are hoping to shake the net more often at this major tournament in Ivory Coast. To do so, the Mourabitounes will be able to count on the goalscoring talents of Aboubakar Koita. Born in Senegal, the striker from Belgian club Sint-Truiden chose to represent Mauritania, playing his first minutes in the opening two rounds of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. With 11 goals in 19 Jupiler League games, Aboubakar Koita will lead the line for Mauritania at this AFCON.

 

Read more on the same topic: AFCON 2023 (Mauritania) - Amir Abdou: "We'll be the outsiders with Angola"

 

The coach: Amir Abdou

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In search of a first AFCON win, Mauritania have given themselves every chance. Coach of the Mourabitounes since March 2022, with a record so far of 9 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats, Amir Abdou comes off a more than successful AFCON. In charge of Comoros in 2022 in Cameroon at the previous edition, he pulled off the feat of knocking out Ghana before going out in the last 16 against the Indomitable Lions in a match that will go down in the competition's history. Able to get the best out of his squad, Amir Abdou is capable of leading Mauritania on a memorable run.

 

• Mauritania's fixtures in Group D:

 

16 January: Burkina Faso – Mauritania

20 January: Mauritania – Angola

23 January: Mauritania – Algeria