AFCON 2027 Qualifiers · Group F · Matchday 1 · FULL-TIME
🇲🇷 Mauritania 3 – 1 Central African Republic 🇨🇫
⚽ Koita 32′ · Sankharé 69′ · Diallo 89′ — Koyalipou 48′ (CAR)
Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca, Morocco · Thursday 24 September 2026 · 19:00 EAT (16:00 GMT)
Summary: Mauritania opened their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign with a 3–1 win over the Central African Republic. The match was played in Casablanca because no stadium in Mauritania was approved in time. Aboubakary Koita gave the Mourabitounes the lead, Goduine Koyalipou equalised just after half-time, and second-half goals from Dawda Camara Sankharé and Mamadou Diallo sealed the win.
How the match unfolded
Mauritania controlled much of the first half, attacking down the wings, and Koita broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. The Central African Republic hit back three minutes after the restart when Koyalipou levelled at 1–1. Mauritania regained control, and Sankharé restored the lead in the 69th minute before Diallo’s 89th-minute strike wrapped up the points.
Group F after Matchday 1
| Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 1 | -2 | 0 |
Burkina Faso v Benin: Friday 25 September, 22:00 EAT.
Next up
- 🇨🇫 Central African Republic v Burkina Faso 🇧🇫: Monday 28 September, 19:00 EAT
- 🇧🇯 Benin v Mauritania 🇲🇷: Tuesday 29 September, 20:00 EAT
All of Thursday’s results: Matchday 1 live hub