AFCON 2023: Battle of the Underdogs as Mauritania aims at Palancras Negras

Posted : 20 January 2024

After a disappointing first match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso, The Lions of Chinguetti of Mauritania look to recover and be ready for redemption when they face Angola in their Africa Cup of Nations encounter at Stade de la Paix.

The Lions of Chinguetti of Mauritania lost to a late penalty against Burkina Faso in their Group D opener, while Palancas Negras held 2019 champions Algeria to a 1-1 draw.

For the Lions of Chinguetti of Mauritania, it is a must-win for them, or else, two back-to-back defeats will surely be an exit door to the 2024 AFCON ongoing in Cote D'Ivoire.

While it is a fact that the Lions of Chinguetti of Mauritania put up a good show in the match against the Stallions of Burkina Faso, the lack of a cutting-edge final ball was their undoing as they missed begging chances, which they cannot afford to repeat against a more clinical Burkina Faso team.

Amir Abdou's troops were lauded for their effort out of possession against the Stallions and controlled aggression that meant their fancied opponents got little joy for much of the encounter until the deciding penalty that condemned them to the unfortunate loss.

While Mauritania seeks to carry more of an attacking threat against Angola, a baseline guarantee of effort without the ball gives them a chance against their opponents.

Still without maximum points at AFCON, Saturday's encounter represents another opportunity for the Lions of Chinguetti to claim a first win at the Cup of Nations in their eighth game at the continental showpiece.

Whether this materializes remains to be seen, but Abdou should demand his side matches the industry shown against Burkina Faso to give themselves a fighting chance against the Angolans.

The Palancas Negras, buoyed by the first win, should consolidate and hope to pick up where they left off against Algeria when they take to the field in their second Group D game at AFCON 2023.

Pedro Goncalves's men began slowly against the North Africans and could have fallen 2-0 behind in the opening half, but Baghdad Bounedjah's acrobatic second was ruled out for offside.

The Southern African nation has to respond strongly after the interlude and had several promising situations on the counter-attack, only to be let down by suboptimal execution before their 68th-minute leveller.

That came from the spot through first-half substitute Mabululu, who dispatched his penalty after Nabil Bentaleb's foul was penalized midway through the second half.

Having put themselves in a promising position with the point against Algeria, Angola knows that success against the Lions of Chinguetti all but confirms participation in the round of 16.

With Group D looking so tight, all of the four teams must brace up as the slot for the knockout stage will be narrower than expected.

AFCON 2023: Battle of the Underdogs as Mauritania aims at Palancras Negras

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