Mauritania’s national team made history by qualifying for the Round of 16 in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time, securing their first victory in the tournament against Algeria.
In the Tuesday evening match of the third round in Group D, Mauritania defeated Algeria 1-0, marking a historic achievement for the Mauritanian team.
Babacar Niasse, the goalkeeper for Mauritania, was awarded the Man of the Match, leaving many curious about this talented player.
Born in Senegal with Mauritanian roots, Niasse began his career as a playmaker but later transitioned to goalkeeper due to his impressive height of 195 cm.
He started at the U-17 level for Senegal in the 2011 Africa Cup of Nations and later joined the ranks of KAS Eupen in Belgium in 2015.
Niasse became the starting goalkeeper for Mauritania since joining the team in March 2022, participating in eight international matches with the team known as “Al-Murabitun.”
Despite missing the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, this continental tournament marked his first appearance.
As the second-choice goalkeeper for AJ Auxerre in the French second division, he played a single match in the second round of the French Cup this season.
In the 2023-2024 season, Niasse joined AJ Auxerre from Tondela in the Portuguese second division.
What did the Mauritanian goalkeeper contribute in the match against Algeria?
– Played for 90 minutes
– Saved 5 shots
– Passing accuracy reached 58%
– Dispersed the ball twice
