A battle for a place at next year’s CHAN tourney continues as Mauritania host Mali in the first leg tie at the Sheikha Ould Badia Stadium in Naoukchott on Saturday 12 August 2017.

The two teams had already met in the last tournament qualifiers third round where Mali beat Mauritania 1-0 and now the home side will be looking for  a revenge though the previous record will definitely favour the Eagles.

Mali are not push overswhen it comes to African football but interms of regional football history Mauritania is better thannthem but this time their major aim is to eliminate their fellow West Africans which might be motivated per their recent form.

The Mauritanian team suffers from several notable absences, some due to injury, some because of the professionalism of a number of players in foreign clubs as the tournament regulations no longer allow them to participate in this crucial role of qualifying.

The national team coach was forced to call a number of young players of the Mauritanian youth team, most notably striker striker Hameh Ould Tantji, Tijkja striker, to compensate a number of players absent from the match today.

However Mali’s coach ahead of the game said – “They are a good side and will have their fans behind them because the match will be free but we have come here with a game plan and we are hopeful that it will be well executed to enable us qualify to next year’s tournament.’

The match will be played at the Stadium of Sheikha Ould Bidia, which is hosting for the first time an official match of this kind, because of the maintenance work currently under the Olympic Stadium, which was traditionally hosted international matches of the national team.

The Mauritanian team is aiming for a positive result at home, ahead of the return leg which will be held a week later in Bamako.