Mauritania eye home win against Gambia

by BackPageTXT

Thursday Mar 24, 2016. 09:20

Mauritania are hosting Gambia in Nouakchott on Friday, in their third Group M outing of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Defeated 1-0 by Cameroon in Yaoundé in their campaign opener last June, the ‘Mourabitounes’ managed to bounce back with a 3-1 home win over South Africa in September to claim second place on three points.

And they are now desperate to grab all six points in their double header with the Scorpions to boost their chances of qualifying for their first ever AFCON finals.

National coach Corentin Martins has welcome the return of midfield trio Diallo Guidilèye, Khassa Camara and El Hacen El Id, all ruled out of their clash with Bafana Bafana due to injury, while handing a maiden call-up to FC Gobelins keeper Sikhou Sylla and SM Caen defender Hamza Ould Javar.

However, Ba Adama, Abou Sy and Yacoub Denne have been left out of the squad.

“We must focus on the first game in Nouakchott and win it,” Martins said in a press conference.

“And to achieve it, all the players will have to be at their best and the supporters behind us.

“We are going to give it all to please them and give them some hope.”

Lying third in the table on a single point, after holding South Africa to a goalless draw and falling 0-1 at home to Cameroon, Gambia have very little room for error and will be looking for a positive result on the road before hosting the ‘Mourabitounes’ in Bakau on Tuesday.

The match will kick off at Stade Olympique in Nouakchott at 18h30 CAT on Friday.