2026 World Cup – Amir Abdou: "Senegal and DR Congo are the big teams in the group"
Reactions from national team coaches continue to come in following the 2026 World Cup draw held last Thursday in Abidjan
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The 2026 World Cup is under way with the draw held on Thursday 13 July in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. With qualifying not starting until November 2023, national team coaches are giving their views on their future opponents. That is the case for Mauritania head coach Amir Abdou, who takes a clear-eyed view of Group B, which they share with Senegal, DR Congo, Togo, South Sudan and Sudan. "There is no such thing as a kind draw, because every team wants to win. We came out of pot 3, we are playing big nations. We know the favourites will be Senegal, then DR Congo. We also know we have two games against the two Sudanese sides, given everything that is going on over there. We will play the spoilers with some interesting matches, and a derby against Senegal will be enriching", the Comorian coach told Mauriweb.
Landing in a group with the reigning African champions is hardly something to turn your nose up at. The task looks daunting. Worse still, they are also immediate neighbours. "Senegal are a great football nation who regularly play in the World Cup finals. They also won the last AFCON and, on top of that, they are our neighbours. It is a very interesting match to play, and we will be pleased to face them. I also think Senegal have a lot of respect for Mauritania, given how we have progressed in recent years. The other teams also have their say in this group. The aim is to believe in this competition, to dream and to approach the matches well. We know the group is tough, but we have to stay positive", says Amir Abdou.
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What about the favourites in Group B? "On paper, you can say Senegal and DR Congo are the big teams. But we will be fighting it out with the two Sudanese nations and Togo. Nothing is settled when you consider how hard it is to play away in Africa, so you always have to believe. Admittedly, the favourites are Senegal and DR Congo, but it will not be a closed shop and we won't be there to hand out points", noted the former Comoros coach.
With 9 groups of 6 teams, only the group winners will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, the four best runners-up will go into play-offs to decide which team goes through to the intercontinental play-offs.
Jim CEESAY