Mauritania head coach Aritz López Garai says his team is laser-focused on delivering a performance that will make the nation proud at the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), which kicks off on August 2 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The Spanish tactician, who is guiding Mauritania into their fourth CHAN appearance, admitted Group B will be no walk in the park. The Mourabitounes have been drawn against hosts Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and the Central African Republic, setting up a testing route to the knockouts.
Still, López Garai is optimistic.
“We are preparing with great seriousness and daily commitment,” he told CAFOnline.com. “The players are working hard in training and gaining valuable experience through friendlies against strong opponents.”
Mauritania reached the quarter-finals in the last edition in Algeria, their best-ever CHAN showing, and López Garai believes that legacy is driving the current squad forward.
“Improving on our previous performance is a great motivation, but also a major challenge,” he said. “This time we are in a five-team group and will play four difficult matches. But qualifying after eliminating Mali was a huge confidence boost.”
López Garai, who is set for his first major African tournament, is approaching the moment with calm but determined focus. He stressed that the players are eager, motivated, and ready to embrace the challenge ahead.
“What matters most is to represent Mauritania with pride,” he said. “Our goal is to be competitive and have a clear identity on the pitch. We want the Mauritanian people and our football authorities to feel proud whenever they watch us.”
Mauritania opens its CHAN 2024 campaign next week, hoping to carry the momentum from qualifying into a group stage that promises intensity, unpredictability, and high stakes.
