Mauritania has rekindled its knockout hopes at the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship, securing a 1-0 victory over the Central African Republic at the Benjamin Mpaka National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Saturday’s early kickoff saw Mauritania triumph in a high-stakes match described as pre-game as a “make or break” encounter for both teams in Group B, with both the sides giving it their all in a frenetic pace of play.
Coach Aritz López Garai’s tactical setup paid off early, as Mauritania scored the game’s only goal in the 9th minute through a beautifully crafted counter-attack. Ahmed El Moctar Ahmed’s clinical finish, assisted by a pinpoint pass from Abdallahi Mahmoud, set the tone for a tightly contested match that saw both teams battle for every loose ball and commit numerous fouls, resulting in six yellow cards, with five going to the Central African Republic for persistent tackles and dissent.
CAR coach Ngato Sébastien attempted to inject new energy into the match with an early second-half substitution, replacing Seya Fayanga with Steven Pouguy in a bid to turn the tide of the game.
However, Pouguy’s lone notable shot on goal in the 80th minute was expertly saved by goalkeeper Abderrahmane Sarr, who made a crucial block to preserve his team’s lead and earn a clean sheet.
The loss leaves the Central African Republic’s tournament prospects in jeopardy, with two defeats and five goals conceded in two games, highlighting the need for a more solid defensive setup and improved finishing in front of goal.
Meanwhile, Mauritania’s win boosts their chances of advancing to the knockout stage, with four points and a final group match against Burkina Faso remaining.
If Mauritania succeed in navigating Group B, it would mark their second appearance in the knockout stage since 2022.
Copyright©2025 kick442.com-Cameroon
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written, or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from our management.
This site is not responsible for the content displayed by external sites
English 
French