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Mauritania women's national football team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Mauritania national football team.

Mauritania
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Mourabitounes
AssociationFootball Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachAbdoulaye Diallo
CaptainFatou Dioup
Top scorerFatou Dioup (2)
FIFA codeMTN
FIFA ranking
CurrentNR (7 August 2025)[1]
First international
 Djibouti 3–1 Mauritania 
(Nouakchott, Mauritania; 30 July 2019)[2]
Biggest win
 Mauritania 2–0 Guinea-Bissau 
(Nouakchott, Mauritania; 26 May 2025)
Biggest defeat
 Mauritania 0–7 Tanzania 
(Le Kram, Tunisia; 14 February 2020)
WAFU Zone A Women's Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2023)
Best resultGroup Stage (2023, 2025)

The Mauritania women's national football team (Arabic: منتخب موريتانيا لكرة القدم للسيدات, French: Équipe Nationale féminine de football de Mauritanie) represents Mauritania in international women's football and is controlled by the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (FFIRM). The team played its first international match in 2019 as a friendly against Djibouti in which they lost three to one. Fatou Dioup scored Mauritania's first international goal.

History

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The team

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In 1985, almost no country in the world had a women's national football team,[3] including Mauritania who did not play in a single FIFA sanctioned match between 1950 and June 2012.[4] The country did not have a FIFA recognised national senior or junior team in 2006,[5] and was unchanged in 2009.[6] In 2010, the country did not have a team competing in the African Women's Championships during the preliminary rounds.[7] The country did not have a team competing at the 2011 All Africa Games.[8] In March 2012, the team was not ranked in the world by FIFA.[9]

Federation

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The national association, the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, was founded in 1961 and became a FIFA affiliate in 1964.[5][10] Women's football is not represented by rule in the federation and they do not employ anyone specifically to manage the women's football.[5] The federation has not participated in any FIFA sanctioned training courses for women's football.[6] Most of the funding for women's football in the country and for the women's national team comes from FIFA, not the national football association.[11]

Background and development

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Football is the second most popular women's sport in the country, behind basketball which is number one.[5] In 2006, there were 100 registered female football players in the country, the first time such numbers were tracked.[5] Opportunities for play are limited as there are only four women's football teams in the country, women's football is not organised at schools, and mixed football is not allowed.[5]

The lack of development of the national team on a wider international level is symptomatic of wider problems on the continent, including limited access to education, poverty amongst women in the wider society, and fundamental inequality present in the society (especially present in Muslim-majority religious state countries, Mauritania being one such country) that occasionally allows for female-specific human rights abuses.[12] Early development of the women's game at the time colonial powers brought football to the continent was limited as colonial powers in the region tended to take make concepts of patriarchy and women's participation in sport with them to local cultures that had similar concepts already embedded in them.[13] Continent wide, if quality female football players do develop, they leave for greater opportunities abroad.[11] Future, success for women's football in Africa is dependent on improved facilities and access by women to these facilities. Attempting to commercialise the game and make it commercially is not the solution, as demonstrated by the many youth and women's football camps held on the continent.[13]

Team image

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Nicknames

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The Mauritania women's national football team have been nicknamed the "Mourabitounes".

Results and fixtures

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Main article: Mauritania women's national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2025

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22 May 2025 (2025-05-22) 2025 WAFU Zone A Cup GS Mauritania  0–5  Mali Nouakchott, Mauritania
16:00 Report
  • Koné 5'
  • S. Diarra 14', 66'
  • Ag. Diarra 26'
  • Samaké 28'
 Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium
Referee: Fatou Ngum (Gambia)
24 May 2025 (2025-05-24) 2025 WAFU Zone A Cup GS Liberia  1–1  Mauritania Nouakchott, Mauritania
19:00 Morris 56' Report Diabira 87' (pen.) Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium
Referee: Humu Marah (Sierra Leone)
26 May 2025 (2025-05-26) 2025 WAFU Zone A Cup GS Mauritania  2–0  Guinea-Bissau Nouakchott, Mauritania
16:00
Report Stadium: Cheikha Ould Boïdiya Stadium
Referee: Félicité Kourouma (Guinea)

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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As of 2 December 2023
Position Name Ref.
Head coach Spain Jordi Arimany [14]

Manager history

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Players

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Current squad

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See also: Category:Mauritania women's international footballers

The following list is the final squad for 2025 WAFU Zone A Women's Cup announced on 20 May 2025.[15]

Caps and goals accurate up to and including 9 July 2021.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1GK Salimata Samba Mauritania FC Nouadhibou
1GK Aissata Fall Mauritania FC Nouadhibou
1GK Marietou Sagna Mauritania AS Douanes
2DF Maimouna Diallo Mauritania FC Nouadhibou
2DF Meije Cissé Senegal FC Baobab
2DF Fatou Diop (1994-05-05)5 May 1994 (aged 31) Morocco Union Touarga
2DF Fatimata Sall Mauritania ASC Snim
2DF Coumba Gueye Morocco Union Assa-Zag
2DF Salma Moctar Vall Mauritania AS Douanes
3MF Ami Gaye Mauritania FC Nouadhibou
3MF Halima Diallo Mauritania ASC Snim
3MF Ramata Gangué Morocco AM Laâyoune[a]
3MF Leila Blal Mauritania FC Nouadhibou
3MF El Ghaiba Fall Mauritania Chemal FC
3MF Rougui Dia Mauritania Chemal FC
4FW Zeinebou Ahmed Mauritania Chemal FC
4FW Aminata Diakite Mauritania FC Nouadhibou
4FW Tacko Diabira Senegal AS Dakar Sacré-Cœur
4FW Hawa Dicko Mauritania AS Douanes
4FW Mariem Diadie Traore Mauritania FC Nouadhibou

Recent call-ups

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The following players have been called up to a Mauritania squad in the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up


INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
SUS Player is serving a suspension.
WD Player withdrew for personal reasons.

Previous squads

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  • First match selection[16]
WAFU Zone A Women's Cup

Records

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*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2021.

Competitive record

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FIFA Women's World Cup

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FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA GD Squad Coach
China 1991 to France 2019 Did not exist
Australia New Zealand 2023 Did not qualify
Brazil 2027 To be determined
MexicoUnited States 2031 To be determined
United Kingdom 2035 To be determined
Total 0/1 – – – – – – – —
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games

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Summer Olympics record
Year Result Pld W D* L GS GA GD
United States 1996 to Brazil 2016 did not exist
Japan 2020 to France 2024 did not enter
Total 0/8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Africa Women Cup of Nations

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Africa Women Cup of Nations record
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA GD
1991 to Ghana 2018 Did not exist
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
Morocco 2022 Did not qualify
Morocco 2024 Did not enter
Total 0/2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

African Games

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African Games record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Loses GF GA GD
Nigeria 2003 to Republic of the Congo 2015 Did not exist
Morocco 2019 Did not qualify
Ghana 2023 Withdraw
Total 0/4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

WAFU Women's Cup record

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WAFU Zone A Women's Cup record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA GD Squad Coach
Sierra Leone 2020 Did not enter
Cape Verde 2023 Group stage 2 0 0 2 0 7 −7 Squad Abdoulaye Diallo
Mauritania 2025 Group stage 3 1 1 1 3 6 −3 Squad Spain Jordi Arimany
Total 2/3 5 1 1 3 3 13 −10 —

Arab Women's Championship

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Arab Women's Championship record
Appearances: 1
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA GD
Egypt 2006 Did not exist
Egypt 2021 Did not enter
Total Third 2/2 10 4 3 3 33 12 +21

All−time record against FIFA recognized nations

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Key
  Positive balance (more wins than losses)
  Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
  Negative balance (more losses than wins)

The following table shows Mauritania' all-time official international record per opponent:

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD W% Confederation
 Algeria 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 00.00 CAF
 Cape Verde 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6 00.00 CAF
 Djibouti 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 00.00 CAF
 Guinea-Bissau 4 1 0 3 2 3 −1 00.00 CAF
 Liberia 1 0 1 0 1 1 ±0 00.00 CAF
 Mali 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 00.00 CAF
 Morocco 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 00.00 CAF
 Tanzania 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 00.00 CAF
 Tunisia 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 00.00 CAF
Total 12 1 1 10 4 38 −34 8.33 —

Last updated: Mauritania v Guinea-Bissau, 26 May 2025.

  1. ^ AMFF Laâyoune is a Western Saharan-based club playing in the Moroccan football league system.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Sélections : Première sortie officielle des Féminines". Fédération de Footbal de la Mauritanie (in French). 23 July 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  3. ^ Chrös McDougall (1 January 2012). Soccer. ABDO. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-61783-146-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Mauritania : Fixtures and Results". FIFA. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Women's Football Today" (PDF). FIFA. 2006. p. 128. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Goal! Football: Mauritania" (PDF). FIFA. 21 April 2009. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Fixtures – African Women Championship 2010 – CAF". Cafonline.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Groups & standings – All Africa Games women 2011 – CAF". Cafonline.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  9. ^ "The FIFA Women's World Ranking". FIFA.com. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Goal! Football: Mauritania" (PDF). FIFA. 21 April 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  11. ^ a b Gabriel Kuhn (24 February 2011). Soccer Vs. the State: Tackling Football and Radical Politics. PM Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-60486-053-5. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  12. ^ Jean Williams (15 December 2007). A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football. Berg. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-84520-674-1. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  13. ^ a b Peter Alegi (2 March 2010). African Soccerscapes: How a Continent Changed the World's Game. Ohio University Press. ISBN 978-0-89680-278-0. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  14. ^ "JORDI ARIMANY, NOUVEAU SÉLECTIONNEUR DE L'ÉQUIPE FÉMININE" [Jordi Arimany, New head coach of the women's team]. ffrim.org (in French). FFIRM. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  15. ^ FFRIM (20 May 2025). "La liste des joueuses de l'équipe nationaleconvoquées par le sélectionneur Jordi Rovira Arimany pour la WAFU-A Women's Cup, Nouakchott 2025" (in French). Retrieved 20 May 2025 – via Facebook.
  16. ^ "Football Féminin : Abdoulaye Diallo à dévoilé sa sélection pour le match amical contre le DJIBOUTI ET le tournoi international du COTIF". 29 July 2019.
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