It’s a back-to-back qualification for the Lions of Chinguetti 🇲🇷 having qualified for the 2019 AFCON, for the first time in their history.
In 2012, they were the poorest football nation in the world, ranked 206. They were banned for inability to raise a team for 2012 AFCON qualifiers.
Between 1995 and 2003, they played in just 33 competitive games and didn’t win a single match. Even worse, between 2009 and 2011, they played a single football match and that was vs Palestinia which they didn’t win. By 2012, the whole football system was in complete mess.
Then they began a complete revolution that started from infrastructural development and grassroot football. They started the construction of a National Football HQ that had a 10,000 capacity stadium, camping base for U12, U15, U17.
The five year development plan included massive investment in domestic and women’s football. A National selection of young players from across the country. Cluns were properly structured and handed buses. All clubs set up Youth sides. The FFRIM has Women’s Teams across all divisions and Clubs started winning in the CAF Competitions.
This plan culminated in the National Team qualifying for their first AFCON in 2019. But before that, two successive qualifications in the CHAN, a tournament strictly reserved for domestic players. From not winning a game to beating South Africa & qualifying over Burkina Faso in 2019.
Before 2012, qualifying for the AFCON seemed an illusion. It was very difficult to see anyone wearing a National team shirt anywhere. Today, the FFRIM has shops in the country and Mauritania shirts are some of the fastest selling products generating income for the FA.
In Cameroon, Mauritania will be making their second AFCON. They’ll boast of the youngest player of the tournament. 16-year-old Lekweiry is a product of the U12 team from 2017. He played in the U20 Arab Cup and making the AFCON.
Credit: Saddick Adams
MOLATsportgist 