No dream CHAN debut for Mauritania national side
MAURITANIA's dream of reaching the quarter-final stage on their first ever appearance in the Orange CAF African Nations Championships (Chan) was dashed.
MAURITANIA’s dream of reaching the quarter-final stage on their first ever appearance in the Orange CAF African Nations Championships (Chan) was dashed when they were sent packing on Saturday night by Burundi who cashed in on a 93rd minute goal by captain Ndikumana Selemani to beat the West African country 3-2.
Nicknamed Les Mourabitones, Mauritania became the third country to be eliminated from the group stages of Chan 2014, after Mozambique and Ethiopia who lost their first two group stage matches.
After losing all six of their qualifying matches for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, Mauritania withdrew from the Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations and did not even enter the qualifyers for the continental showpiece that South Africa hosted in 2013.
The Patrice Neveu coached side lost their opening Chan match 1-0 to Burundi, but their early goal by striker Samba El Voullany and a timely equaliser from Mohamed Denna brought a glimpse of hope. A visible lack of experience allowed The Swallows of Burundi to grab a win, which placed them at the summit of Group D, ahead of Gabon and DR Congo.
The Les Mourabitones will honour their last match of the competition and decide the future of Gabon in the competition when the two countries lock horns in the final Group D match tonight (Wednesday) at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
