Title: The keys to Mauritania’s success at the CAN: Interview with Amir Abdou, the Mourabitounes coach
Introduction :
The African Cup of Nations is fast approaching and teams are actively preparing for the most prestigious tournament on the continent. Among them, Mauritania, which is participating in its third CAN and which hopes to achieve its first victory. To find out more about the Mauritanian team’s preparations and their ambitions during the competition, we had the opportunity to speak with Amir Abdou, the Mourabitounes coach. In this exclusive interview, he reveals the keys to success for his team and shares his impressions on Group D, made up of Algeria, Burkina Faso and Angola.
The recipe for success :
Amir Abdou highlights several key factors for success at the CAN. According to him, seriousness, perseverance and rigor are essential to achieve the objectives set. But he specifies that success also depends on many other parameters such as the preparation of the team, the state of mind of the players and their determination to follow their dreams. The Mauritanian coach underlines the importance of believing in your abilities and not limiting yourself in your ambitions.
Group D: a challenge for Mauritania:
Regarding Group D, Amir Abdou sees himself as an outsider. He recognizes that Algeria is the undisputed favorite of the group, closely followed by Burkina Faso, a team accustomed to the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Mauritania and Angola will therefore be the outsiders of this group and will try to create a surprise. The objective is to avoid the failures of previous editions of the CAN and to compete with the strongest teams to reach the round of 16.
The list of players for the CAN:
Amir Abdou also tells us that the list of 27 players selected for the CAN will be revealed on December 25. He says there will be one or two surprises in this list, but refuses to say more. He explains that some players he would have liked to see join the team are not ready, but that he has already finalized his selection with the staff.
Comparison between Mauritanian and Comorian potential:
The Mauritanian coach highlights the differences between the potential of Comorian players and those of Mauritania. He describes Comorian players as explosive, fast and adept in space, while Mauritanian players stand out for their aggressiveness and willingness to learn. Amir Abdou highlights the generosity and attentiveness of Mauritanian players, which makes it possible to obtain interesting results, both with local players and with expatriates.
The question of alchemy between bi-nationals and local players:
Finally, Amir Abdou addresses the question of alchemy between bi-national players and players born in the country. He recognizes that Mauritania has had difficulty attracting targeted players among dual nationals, because the latter often have the possibility of choosing other, more attractive selections, such as Senegal or Mali. The coach insists on the need to be realistic and to rely mainly on local players, hoping that some dual nationals will join the team on their own initiative.
Conclusion :
Amir Abdou, the coach of Mauritania, displays unfailing determination for the CAN and hopes to achieve the feat in a tough group. It highlights the importance of seriousness, perseverance and rigor, as well as self-confidence to succeed in achieving your goals. The list of players selected for the competition will be revealed soon, suggesting some surprises. Mauritania is counting on the aggressiveness and desire to learn from its players to create a surprise during the CAN.