Mauritania Secures Replacement For DR Congo Friendly

The much-anticipated friendly match between the Lions of Chinguetti and Democratic Republic of Congo has been cancelled, according to Mauritania Football Federation (FFRIM).

The Lions of Chinguetti were billed to play Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal as part of preparations for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The two teams were to meet on October 9 but a statement from FFRIM states that the game has been called off.

Mauritania will now face Sierra Leone at Sheik Bedia Stadium in Nouakchott in a match that will replace the cancelled Democratic Republic of Congo friendly.

“FFRIM has officially decided that the national team will face Sierra Leone in a friendly international match to be held at Sheikh Bedia Stadium in Nouakchott, on October 9, before the expected clash against Senegal national team on 13th of the same month in the Senegalese city of Teiss,” reads part of the statement.

FFRIM announced soon after Democratic Republic of Congo’s withdrawal on Thursday they were in talks with one WAFU country, and an agreement with Sierra Leone was eventually reached.

It’s reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo opted against playing Mauritania because the date and venue proposed by the FFRIM do not fit into their plan for their next fixture against Morocco.

Mauritania are billed to take on Burundi in back-to-back Nations Cup qualifiers in November.

Since defeating Central African Republic 2-0 in a Nations Cup qualifier in Nouakchott on November 17, 2019, the Lions of Chinguetti are yet to play a match in the year owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which will be hosted by Cameroon has been moved to 2022 due to delays caused by the pandemic.