Mauritania FA President Defends Federation After Heavy Defeat to Morocco
After the Mourabitounes suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Morocco in a recent friendly, Ahmed Ould Yahya, president of the Mauritanian Football Federation (FFRIM), has come out strongly to defend his leadership amid a wave of public and journalistic criticism.
“A Smear Campaign”
Speaking candidly, Ould Yahya dismissed the backlash as a “smear campaign” led by journalists who, in his view, are resistant to change and progress:
“I have been with the Federation for three years and I work in all conscience with my team to promote football. I sincerely believe that the sporting public is actually demanding the resignation of these journalists who have been there for more than 20 years and who do not want football to progress.”
He made clear distinctions between constructive criticism and outright denigration, insisting that his administration will no longer engage with media figures who do not support the sport’s development:
“As long as I am at the head of the Federation, I will not work with these journalists.”
On the Match Against Morocco
Regarding the heavy defeat, Ould Yahya drew comparisons with Brazil’s infamous 7-1 loss to Germany at the 2014 World Cup to highlight that even major teams can be routed:
“A rout can happen to any team. Our defeat was due to a fact of play. We played evenly throughout the first half, but the injury to our starting goalkeeper Souleymane and the red card for his replacement Boubacar at the start of the second half changed everything.”
He further criticized the refereeing decisions, particularly the awarding of a penalty to Morocco, which he believes contributed to the scoreline:
“It was not normal. I explained it to the organizers, but they did not want to understand.”
Context and Outlook
While Ould Yahya’s comments reflect a firm stance against what he perceives as entrenched media hostility, the 5-0 loss has nonetheless raised valid concerns about the current state and direction of Mauritanian football. The Federation may now face a pivotal test — not just in addressing the technical issues on the field, but in rebuilding trust with fans and finding constructive paths forward, both with the press and the broader footballing community.
