Mauritania and Guinea fight for pride in Marrakech

Hemeya Tanjy of Mauritania evades tackle from Nasr Eldin Omer Ahmed of Sudan during the 2018 Chan football game between Sudan and Mauritania at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco on 17 January 2018 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

by Brian Lee

Saturday Jan 20, 2018. 13:00

Mauritania and Guinea will do battle for nothing but pride when they cross swords in a 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) Group A match at the Stade de Marrakech on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 21h00 CAT (SA, GMT+2).

The two teams have already suffered elimination from the continental competition following defeat to Morocco and Sudan respectively.

As a result, the game in Marrkech is a mere formality with the loser to be condemned to the foot of the table.

Mauritania held their own for most of their opening day clash against hosts Morocco, but the Atlas Lions would ultimately claim a convincing 4-0 win.

Sudan's Mohamed Walaedin then succumbed Corentin Martins troops to a 1-0 defeat to dump Mauritania out of the competition as they now set their sights on qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Guinea suffered a similar fate with a 2-1 loss to the Falcons of Jediane followed by a 3-1 defeat to an Ayoub El Kaabi inspired Morocco, as they too endured a premature exit from the competition.

Kanfory Mohamed 'Lappe' Bangoura was duly dismissed as head coach of the Syli Nationale, with assistant Sory Toure to take charge of the country's final Group A fixture this weekend.

Morocco and Sudan will go head-to-head at the same time with both teams having already booked their place in the quarterfinals of the competition.