In a thrilling debut at the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON, Mauritania’s national futsal team, known as the Mourabitones, secured a heart-stopping 5-4 victory over fellow newcomers Namibia in Group B action at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Hall.
The match kicked off with Mauritania’s captain, Abderhemane Bouhoumadi, setting the tone early with a close-range header to give his team a promising start. This goal spurred the Mourabitones forward, allowing them to dominate the first half and create numerous scoring opportunities.
Dioncounda Sow, in particular, came close to extending the lead on multiple occasions, showcasing Mauritania’s attacking intent.
Yakhouba Sylla then seized the spotlight, scoring twice in quick succession to extend Mauritania’s lead and send their fans into jubilation. His goals, including a cool finish from close range and a precise effort at the back post, helped Mauritania establish a commanding 3-0 advantage before halftime.
Not content with a three-goal lead, Moudery Drame added to Namibia’s woes with a well-placed strike to give Mauritania a comfortable 4-0 lead heading into the break.
The second half, however, saw a spirited comeback from Namibia as they fought back with determination. Despite trailing by four goals, Namibia’s captain, Ken Salote, ignited his team’s resurgence with a fierce strike from distance to pull one back.
Remario Mathys and George Haikali added further goals for Namibia, narrowing the deficit to 4-3 and putting immense pressure on Mauritania’s defense. With the game hanging in the balance, Mauritania’s nerves were tested as Namibia pushed for an equalizer.
Mauritania managed to extend their lead once more through M’hamed M’hamed, but Namibia responded swiftly with another goal from Ken Salote, setting up a tense finale.
As Namibia pushed for an equalizer in the dying minutes, Mauritania’s defense held firm, with goalkeeper Imam Saff making critical saves to preserve the narrow lead. Clive Willemse came agonizingly close to salvaging a draw for Namibia, but his effort struck the post in the final moments.
In the end, Mauritania held on for a memorable 5-4 victory, marking a triumphant start to their TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON campaign and joining Egypt atop Group B with three crucial points.
The Mourabitones’ electrifying performance and resilience in the face of Namibia’s spirited comeback underscored their potential in the tournament and set the stage for further excitement as they look ahead to their upcoming fixtures.
PHOTO: CAF Online
