Mauritania's delegation heads to Egypt for AFCON

CAIRO – 20 June 2019: A Mauritanian plane, carrying the national football team, left Nouakchott on Wednesday heading for the Moroccan city of Marrakesh and from there to Cairo for the African Cup of Nations 2019.

A Mauritanian source said the team would later head to Cairo after several training camps, the last of which was the training camp in Marrakech, where he played two friendly matches against Madagascar and Benin.

Mauritania will be featuring in their 1st Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament. The Lions of Chinguetti along with Burundi and Madagascar will be making their AFCON debut.

Corentin Martins is a 49-year-old former French attacking midfielder who has been the head coach of Mauritania since 2014.

Mauritania announced its squad which will play in the next 2019 AFCON. And it's:
Goalkeepers: Suleiman Brahim (FC Nouadhibou), Namori Diaw (ASC Kedia), Babacar Diop (AS Police)

Defenders: Abdoul Ba (AJ Auxerre, France), Bakary Ndiaye (Difaâ Hassani of El Jadida, Morocco), Sally Sarr (Servette FC, Switzerland), Diadié Diarra (CS Sedan Ardennes, France), Harouna Sy (Grenoble Foot 38, France), El Mostapha Diaw (Nouakchott Kings), Aly Abeid (Agrupación Deportiva Alcorcón, Spain), Abdoul Kader Thiam (US Orleans, France)

Midfielders: Mohamed Dellah Yaly (DRB Tadjenanet, Algeria), Ibréhima Coulibaly (Grenoble Foot 38, France), Dialo Guidileye (Elazığspor Kulübü, Turkey), Khassa Camara (Xanthi FC, Greece), Alassane Diop (Hajer FC, Saudi Arabia), Abdoulaye Gaye (Nouadhibou FC), El Hacen EL Id (Real Valladolid, Spain)

Forwards: Adama Ba (Giresunspor Kulübü, Turkey), Ismail Diakhite (US Tataouine, Tunisia), Moulaye Ahmed Khalil “Bessam” (AS Gabès, Tunisia), Souleymane Anne (FC Aurillac Arpajon CA, France), Hemeya Tanjy (FC Nouadhibou)

Mauritania is in Group E alongside Tunisia, Mali and Angola.

Egypt opens their participation in the tournament on Friday against Zimbabwe. The tournament takes place with the participation of 24 teams in six groups for the first time in the history of the African competition.