Patrice Neveu Dismissed as Mauritania Coach Following AFCON Exit
Patrice Neveu has been relieved of his duties as head coach of Mauritania, the country’s football federation confirmed on Monday. The decision comes in the wake of the Mourabitounes’ elimination from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Mauritania were beaten 1-0 at home by Uganda in the second leg of the final preliminary round, having already lost 2-0 in the first leg. The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (FFRIM) said in a statement that it had “decided to terminate the coach’s duties,” while expressing gratitude for his contributions over the past two years.
Appointed in 2012, the Frenchman is credited with raising the standard of Mauritanian football. His most notable achievement came in 2014 when he guided the national team to qualify for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the first time in their history — a milestone in Mauritania’s footballing journey.
Despite that success, the failure to secure a place in the 2015 AFCON group stage has prompted the FFRIM to seek new leadership. “The Federation remains committed to promoting Mauritanian football and ensuring the country’s strong presence in sub-regional, regional, continental, and international competitions,” the statement added.
The FFRIM has also announced plans to “launch, as soon as possible, a national and international call for applications” to identify a new national team coach.
