FACTBOX-Soccer-Profile on Mauritania team for 2019 African Cup of Nations

Factbox on African Cup of Nations qualifiers Mauritania. African Cup of Nations record:

Previous appearances in finals: none Drawn in Group E with Angola, Mali and Tunisia.

Coach: Corentin Martins

The 49-year-old former French international has taken five years to lift Mauritania from rank outsiders to the first-time Cup of Nations participants. Before he got the job, he had limited previous coaching experience with lower league Quimper and Stade Brest in the French league.

Martins, a midfielder with AJ Auxerre for most of his playing days, has a new contract to keep him with Mauritania to 2021. - - -

Key player: Khassa Camara. Age: 26. Midfielder. The defensive midfielder was one of the first players from France with Mauritanian heritage to commit to the national team and help new coach Martins build the talent base.

He debuted six years ago when he was still at Troyes but has since moved to Greece where he plays for Xanthi. He is the only player in Mauritania’s squad who plays for a team in the top flight of a European league.

FIFA world ranking in June 2019: 103

How they qualified: Second placed team in Group I, behind Angola but ahead of Burkina Faso and Botswana. Squad:

Goalkeepers: Suleiman Brahim (FC Nouadhibou), Namori Diaw (ASC Kedia), Babacar Diop (AS Police) Defenders: Aly Abeid (Alcorcon), Abdoul Ba (AJ Auxerre), Diadie Diarra (Sedan), El Mostapha Diaw (Nouakchott Kings), Bakary Ndiaye (DH El Jadida), Sally Sarr (Servette Geneva), Harouna Sy (Grenoble), AbdoulKader Thiam (Orleans)

Midfielders: Khassa Camara (Xanthi), Ibrehima Coulibaly (Grenoble), Alassane Diop (Hajer), Abdoulaye Gaye (FC Nouadhibou), Dialo Guidileye (Elazıgspor), El Hacen El Id (Real Valladolid), Mohamed Dellah Yaly (DRB Tadjenanet) Forwards: Souleymane Anne (Aurillac Arpajon), Adama Ba (Giresunspor), Ismail Diakhite (US Tataouine), Moulaye Ahmed Khalil (AS Gabes), Hemeya Tanjy (FC Nouadhibou). 

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