AFCON 2017: Mauritius Target European-Based Talent in Bid to Bolster Squad
Mauritius is ramping up its recruitment drive as it seeks to strengthen its national team ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Drawn in a challenging group that includes continental powerhouse Ghana, the Mauritian Football Association is actively targeting players of dual nationality currently playing in Europe.
Following earlier reports linking Olympique Lyonnais defender Lindsay Rose to the national team — a move reportedly encouraged by Club M captain Jonathan Bru — Mauritius has now set its sights on Wesley Saïd. The French-born midfielder, trained at Stade Rennais and currently on loan at Laval, has Mauritian roots and is being courted by the island nation to bolster its attacking options.
In a modern twist to the recruitment efforts, Mauritian football supporters have launched social media campaigns to appeal directly to the players. A Facebook page dedicated to both Rose and Saïd has been created to demonstrate fan support and express the national team’s enthusiasm to welcome them into the squad.
The Mauritian national team, affectionately known as Club M, has been under the stewardship of French coach Didier Six for several months. A former international player with France, Six is aiming to elevate the national side’s competitive standing and sees the inclusion of players from the European leagues as vital to that goal.
With a tough qualifying campaign ahead, including a daunting fixture against Ghana, Mauritius knows it will need to field its strongest possible squad to have any chance of reaching the tournament in Gabon.
Efforts to lure Rose and Saïd reflect a growing trend among African national teams to tap into their diaspora talent pool. For Mauritius, the addition of European-based players with Mauritian heritage could provide the boost needed to compete on the continental stage.
No official commitment has been made yet by either player, but with the qualifiers drawing nearer, Club M’s ambitions are becoming clearer: to build a squad capable of surprising even the most seasoned African footballing nations.
