Former Tunisia international and Birmingham City midfielder Mehdi Nafti is set to be named coach of the Mourabitounes, Ducor Sports can reveal.
The development comes few weeks after their immediate former coach Corentin Martins was show the door following bizarre 0-0 draw with Tunisia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The experience Nafti was expected to hold talks with Mauritania Football Federation (FFRIM) officials this morning upon arrival from Lisbon.
Nafti has been a free agent since April when he left Spanish side CD Lugo after breaking the “prevention bubble” that LaLiga was forcing to members in prevention of Covid-19 spread.
According to a source close at FFRIM, the federation was impressed with Nafti ’s profile and current activities for the former Etoile du Sahel coach.
“He was very positive, showed great interest in the job and is willing to work with indigenous Mauritanian coaches and believes can qualify Mourabitoune for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which is very important to the FFRIM,”said the source.
The 42-year-old gaffer began his coaching career with Senguda B side Marbella FC in 2016espite reportedly not possessing the license required to manage at that level.
He later took over at another Segunda B club Merida AD before being snapped up by Spanish third division outfit CD Badajoz where he stayed until February 2020.
In October 2020, Nafti was announced as manager of Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel on a two year deal but returned to Spain five days later, after being appointed in charge of second division side CD Lugo.
For his career as a player, he played between 1989 and 2014 for the teams of Toulouse FC (France), Racing Santander (Spain), Birmingham City (England) and AOK Salonique (Greece).
