In a clash between two of the most inexperienced sides at the Africa Cup of Nations, Mauritania square off against Gambia in Group F at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium on Wednesday.

While the Northwest African side are making just their second AFCON appearance after first securing qualification in 2019, the Scorpions will be making history as they take to the pitch for the first time ever in the tournament.

Match preview

© Reuters

Mauritania will be making an immediate return to the Africa Cup of Nations after crashing out in the group stages in Egypt three years ago, when they finished rock bottom with two points from three games.

Didier Gomes Da Rosa's side secured passage into Cameroon after winning two and drawing three from six outings to collect nine points and finish as runners-up to Morocco in Group E of the qualifiers.

However, Mauritania have managed just two wins in their last 11 competitive outings, losing six and managing three draws, with a 2-1 victory over Syria on December 6 being their first win since June.

This horrid run saw Al-Murabitun miss out on a place in the playoffs of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, after finishing last in Group B of the qualifiers, before suffering a group-stage exit from the just concluded Arab Cup.

Mauritania head into Wednesday's game fresh off the back of a 1-1 draw with Gabon in a warm-up friendly clash on January 4, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pape Ibnou Ba scored for either side to force a share of the spoils.

Meanwhile, after several failed attempts to make it to the biggest stage in African football, Gambia will finally end their long wait and will grace the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday following a hard-fought qualification campaign.

Despite topping Group D in the qualifiers, they secured passage into Cameroon by the skin of their teeth as they won three, drew one and lost two of their six games to finish level on 10 points with Gabon and narrowly edged out third-placed Congo DR by just one point.

Since then, the Scorpions have been involved in a few warm-up friendly fixtures, picking up consecutive wins over Niger and Togo before losing 1-0 at the hands of Kosovo all in June 2021.

After seeing their pre-AFCON warm-up game against Algeria called off due to COVID-19 precautions, Gambia were last in action in a friendly tie against New Zealand on November 11, when they fell to a 2-0 loss courtesy of goals in either half from Burnley forward Chris Wood.

As they prepare for their first-ever game at the tournament, Tom Saintfiet's men will set their sights on getting off to a winning start, which will set the tone for their upcoming games against a significantly superior Malian and Tunisian side in their final two group games.

Team News

© Reuters

Mauritania head into the tournament with a youthful 28-man squad, including 16-year old Beyatt Lekweiry, who turns out for Senegalese outfit Douanes.

Da Rosa has called-up a plethora of foreign-based players, with just eight players based in the Mauritanian top flight, including Babacar Diop, Mbacke Ndiay and Mohamed El Mokhtar.

Former Fulham forward Aboubakar Kamara will shoulder the goalscoring responsibilities of the Lions of Chinguetti, alongside Souleymane Doukara, who has three goals for Giresunspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

Like their opponents, Gambia have drawn up a fairly inexperienced 28-man list for their AFCON campaign, led by veteran defender Pa Modou Jagne, who holds the nation's all-time appearance record with 39.

Further up the pitch, we should see a midfield trio of Ebrima Sohna, Sulayman Marre and Forest Green Rovers man Ebou Williams starting at the centre of the park.

In attack, Saintfiet could line up an attacking duo of Bologna forward Musa Barrow and 27-year-old Assan Ceesay, who is the nation's top scorer with 11 goals in 20 outings.

Mauritania possible starting lineup:
Diop; Abeid, Diarra, Houbeibib, Karamoko; Yali, Fofana; Coulibaly, Doukara, Ba; Kamara

Gambia possible starting lineup:
Jobe; Sundberg, Colley, Sanneh, Jagne; Marreh, Sohna, Mbye, Trawally; Barrow, Ceesay

We say: Mauritania 1-1 Gambia

Mauritania have struggled to get going since securing a spot at the tournament and will be looking to end their dry spell. While we expect both sides to take the game to each other in search of all three points, we anticipate the spoils will be shared in this one.

Written by
Joshua Ojele

Previews by email