Latest news with #AritzLópezGarai
Morocco World
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
CHAN 2024: Madagascar vs Mauritania – Preview & Score Prediction
Madagascar begin their CHAN 2024 campaign against Mauritania at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Kick-off is set for 06:00 pm Moroccan time (GMT+1) in Group B. Mauritania arrive with ambitions to outdo their 2022 run, which saw them reach the quarter-finals. Under Spanish coach Aritz López Garai, the Mourabitounes showed improved structure and composure during qualifiers, particularly against Mali. Playmaker El Hacen El Id is expected to play a central role as Mauritania target a maiden semi-final spot. Madagascar, bronze medallists in 2022, are aiming higher this time. Coach Romuald Rakotondrabe, known for his attacking philosophy, leads a young and dynamic squad featuring John Christiano Razafimanana and Nina Razakanirina. 'Our goal is clear—do better than 2022,' said Rakotondrabe. The fixture pits two emerging sides against one another. With hosts Tanzania, every point will count in the race for qualification. Mauritania carry a slight psychological edge, having beaten Madagascar in their last two encounters — both in friendlies — the latest in November 2023. While Mauritania sit 111th in the FIFA rankings (28th in Africa), and Madagascar 115th (29th in Africa), the rankings are unlikely to count for much in a tightly contested group. Prediction: Mauritania have the edge in experience and recent form.. A 2-1 win for the Mourabitounes looks the most likely outcome. Tags: afconCAFCHANMadagascarMauritania
CAF
30-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024: Mauritania team profile
Mauritania, nicknamed Les Mourabitounes , heads into the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 with high hopes of surpassing their past achievements. Having previously made three appearances, Mauritania's best showing came in the last edition held in Algeria, where they reached the quarter-finals. Under the guidance of Spanish coach Aritz López Garai, the team is eager to showcase their growth on the continental stage and aim for a memorable campaign. Factfile Nickname : Les Mourabitounes : Les Mourabitounes Appearances : 3 (2014, 2018, 2022) : 3 (2014, 2018, 2022) Last Appearance : Algeria 2022 : Algeria 2022 Best Performance : Quarter-finals (2022) : Quarter-finals (2022) Titles : 0 : 0 FIFA Ranking: 109 How They Qualified Mauritania earned their ticket to CHAN 2024 with a solid performance in the qualifying rounds. Drawn against Mali in the second round, Mauritania won 1-0 in Nouakchott before holding their opponents to a 0-0 draw in Bamako. This result secured their place in the finals and highlighted their defensive discipline and tactical maturity. Know Your Coach: Aritz López Garai Spanish tactician Aritz López Garai took charge of the Mauritanian CHAN team in December 2023. With extensive coaching experience in Spain and Mauritania, López Garai has already made an impact by steering FC Nouadhibou to domestic success and a historic group-stage appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup. A former player, López Garai featured for Spanish clubs such as Celta Vigo, Córdoba, and Sporting Gijón before transitioning to coaching. Known for his modern and attacking philosophy, he prioritizes a proactive style of play that seeks to dominate opponents. As he embarks on his first national team competition, López Garai aims to lead Les Mourabitounes to a deeper run in CHAN 2024, building on the foundations laid during Mauritania's previous campaigns. Player to Watch: El Hacen El Id (FC Nouadhibou) Midfielder El Hacen El Id brings a wealth of experience to Mauritania's squad. A seasoned professional, El Id previously played for Spanish clubs such as Levante and Lugo, where he honed his skills. At CHAN 2024, El Id's leadership and technical ability will be critical for Mauritania's ambitions. Known for his composure under pressure and vision on the pitch, the midfielder is expected to be the linchpin in López Garai's setup, dictating play and creating opportunities for his team. Mauritania at CHAN CHAN 2024 marks Mauritania's fourth appearance in the tournament. The team made its debut in 2014 in South Africa and has shown steady improvement over the years. Their best performance came in Algeria 2022, where they advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time. This achievement underscored their growing competitiveness on the continental stage and serves as motivation for further progress in 2024. What to Expect Mauritania enters CHAN 2024 with a blend of youth and experience, aiming to build on their quarter-final finish from 2022. With a solid defensive unit and key players like El Hacen El Id leading the charge, the team is expected to adopt an organized and dynamic approach. López Garai's tactical expertise and attacking philosophy will play a crucial role in ensuring Mauritania competes effectively against some of Africa's top teams. Did You Know? Mauritania's first-ever CHAN victory came in 2022 when they defeated Mali 1-0 in the group stage. The result was a testament to the team's growing stature and resilience on the continental stage. Outlook for CHAN 2024 With a strong foundation and an ambitious coach at the helm, Mauritania is poised to make waves at CHAN 2024. Their target will be to build on their recent successes and secure a place in the semi-finals or beyond, cementing their status as a rising force in African football.
CAF
29-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Four days to go: 'We want Mauritania to be proud of our CHAN performance'
Published: Tuesday, 29 July 2025 Mauritania's local national team coach, Aritz López Garai, says his squad is determined to make the country proud as they prepare for the upcoming TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. The Spanish tactician is overseeing preparations for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 2 to 30 August 2025. Mauritania has qualified for their fourth CHAN appearance, and expectations are high following their impressive quarter-final finish in the 2022 edition in Algeria. Drawn into a challenging Group B alongside hosts Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and the Central African Republic, the Mourabitounes face a difficult path to the knockout stages. But López Garai remains optimistic, saying the team is training with intensity and clarity of purpose. This will be the Spaniard's first major continental tournament in Africa, and he is embracing the challenge with calm focus and deep motivation. His main goal? To ensure Mauritania's fans and football authorities feel proud watching their team on the continental stage. Below is a exclusive Q&A with Mauritania coach Artiz Lopez Garai. How are your preparations going for the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024? Aritz López Garai: We are preparing well, with great seriousness and daily commitment. The players are following a solid training programme and playing friendly matches against strong opponents. Mauritania is participating in CHAN for the fourth time. How do you assess your chances in Group B? López Garai: I think the draw is a difficult one. Having one of the host nations in our group makes things even more complex. We respect all our opponents, but we hope to qualify for the next round of the competition. Your best CHAN performance came in Algeria when Mauritania reached the quarter-finals. Does that motivate the team to go even further this time? López Garai: Improving on our previous performance is a great motivation, but it's also a major challenge. The circumstances are very different now. Last time, we were in a three-team group and played just two matches. This time, we are in a group of five and will play four very tough games. Let's not forget, we qualified by unexpectedly eliminating Mali in the previous round. This will be your first major continental tournament in Africa. What are your expectations? López Garai: I'm approaching it with calmness and responsibility. Representing Mauritania in a major competition makes me feel proud and happy. I am convinced we will have a great tournament, because I see the players full of enthusiasm and confidence. What are your personal objectives with the team during CHAN 2024, especially as fans are still disappointed by the team's absence from AFCON 2025? López Garai: Our main goal is to make the Mauritanian people and our football authorities proud of our performance. In football, almost anything is possible. But our key objective is to be a competitive team with a clear identity, and to make Mauritania proud whenever they see us play.
