Gerard Buscher named Interim Coach of Mauritania

The Mauritania Football Federation (FFRIM) on Thursday announced the appointment of the current national technical director Gerard Buscher as interim coach of the national men’s football team with immediate effect.

Buscher’s appointment comes few weeks Corentin Martins was sacked after poor 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Martins was appointed in April 2014 on a five-year with the objective of overseeing Mauritania’s qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar.

The former AJ Auxerre player, however, succeeded in qualifying the Mourabitounes for the 2019 African Cup of Nations and the next year edition of continental football showpiece.

Buscher will hold the dual role of national technical director and Mourabitounes head coach until at least the end of 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He has been chosen after talks with former Tunisia international and Birmingham City midfielder Mehdi Nafti but the deal fell through.

“Given that Buscher has been with Mourabitounes for quite a while now, it was felt that in the interest of continuity, and given the upcoming fixtures in November, Buscher is best placed to follow through with the foundation that has been laid by Coach Martins,” a source at FFRIM told Ducor Sports.