The history-making trainer, Amir Abdou who led Comoros to their first TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations appearance in Cameron two months ago, was in charge of Mauritania for the first time when they defeated Libya (2-0) and Mozambique (2-1) during the international break last week.
According to CAFOnline.com, the former Comoros coach who also previously coached local Mauritanian giants Nouadhibou said that he is delighted with the outcome despite the difficulty of putting together the new Mourabitounes squad within some few days.
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”It is not easy to put a team in place for eight to ten days. And I am very satisfied with these first two matches which have made it possible to put a smile on the people’s face. Especially since the teams from Mozambique and Libya are of very good quality.” Said the tactician who led the Comoros to the Round of 16 at the recent AFCON.
Before the two friendlies, data was put together on the shortcomings and difficulties of the existing players and those on the periphery of the squad. This resulted in the decision to bring in goalkeeper Babacar Niasse, thanks to his experience in Europe.
“Babacar Niasse (Tondela goalkeeper in Portugal) was made one of the choices for my project thanks to his experience in Europe. I am very happy.” Said the coach, making a positive assessment of his first matches with Mauritania.
“Four goals and one conceded, two wins, that’s a good record.” He noted, referring to quality players on the attacking front with Pape Ibnou Ba (Le Havre, France), Aboubakar Kamara (Aris Salonika, Greece), Souleymane Doukara (Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia), Hemeya Tanjy (FC Nouadhibou), in the local championship a player with great potential. He continued.
He continued saying that “Mauritania must improve in certain areas but must establish a good base of the team which requires a good defensive foundation.”
For the next few weeks, the coach of the Mourabitounes, who were eliminated in the first round of the recent AFCON, has planned to hold a training camp next for home-based players.
“We need to put together a more competitive team and it is planned to have friendly matches to prepare for the CHAN (African Nations Championship) qualifiers and those for the next AFCON.
Abdou who will be in charge of both national teams, is working to qualify the two sides for the CHAN and AFCON insisting with the latter competition only the best players, whether home-based or foreign-based will be selected for the senior national team.
“In the matches against Mozambique, five local players started the match. And they played well.” He said of the 2-1 win.
Mauritanian football is developing and there is great potential, stressing that his presence as coach of FC Nouadhibou allowed him to get an idea of the quality of the players playing in the domestic league.
“It is a bad approach to choose a player based on where he played, be it home-based or foreign-based. It is the best who will play.” Said the former coach of the Comoros.
Following his heroics at the recent AFCON in Cameroon, Amir Abdou said he is “delighted and wants to return to this competition“.