In a thrilling display of the unpredictable nature of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), this year’s tournament has witnessed numerous upsets and surprising early exits, none more significant than Mauritania’s stunning 1-0 victory over two-time champions Algeria in the final Group D match.

Lamine Ba, the standout center-back for Mauritania, expressed the team’s joy, saying, “It is amazing for us to reach the next round for the first time, a great feeling for the team to know we have made the people of Mauritania happy.”

Despite initial setbacks against Burkina Faso and Angola, Mauritania’s historic win secured their spot in the last 16, marking their debut in this stage of the competition. Ba, who made his AFCON debut in 2022, played a pivotal role in repelling Algeria’s attack, describing the victory as a moment of pride for the team.

Coach Amir Abdou, who previously led Comoros to the last 16 in their AFCON debut, has once again worked wonders with the 105th-ranked Mauritania. Ba commended Abdou, stating, “Our coach is really a man of the people, a leader who makes his players believe. For sure, this is a very good coach.”

The emotional aspect of the journey is heightened for Ba, as he shares the pitch with his older brother El Hadji. Ba humorously shared, “When I do good things on the pitch, I never hear from him, but any small mistake, he will let me know about it.”

Looking ahead to the knockout stage, Mauritania faces Cape Verde, a team that has been a role model for smaller African nations. Ba acknowledged Cape Verde’s success, saying, “They play amazing football, and we know it will be a tough match, but we can do the job and reach the quarter-finals.”

Drawing from his experience at Paris St-Germain, Ba emphasized his self-belief, saying, “Even against Algeria, it was a great feeling, but I am straight away thinking about the next game. For me, AFCON is a chance to show my ability and my mentality.”

Ba believes that the quality of football across Africa has significantly improved, with smaller nations gaining confidence. He remarked, “The big African nations haven’t really accepted this change yet, but they should, as this is what African football is like now – any team can win.”

Mauritania’s journey is not just a triumph for the team but a testament to the evolving landscape of African football, where underdogs are proving they can compete with the best.