Soccer, the great popular sport
As in many African countries, soccer is the most popular sport in the country. The national team, which has long been discreet on the international scene, has made a name for itself in recent years by qualifying for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) for the first time in its history in 2019. A feat that the Murabitouns, the nickname of the national team, have repeated at the 2021 edition. Even if they did not get out of the group, the Mauritanians made the pride of a whole people by participating in the most prestigious competition of the African continent. A golden period that can not be dissociated from the passage at the head of the team of the former player of AJ Auxerre Corentin Martins who piloted the selection between 2014 and 2022, before being replaced by the local coach of FC Nouadhibou, Amir Abdou.
Mauritania, fan of... petanque!
Surprisingly, petanque is very popular in Mauritania. There are many clubs throughout the country and a national federation that manages the national teams. Teams that have had good results on the international scene, such as the men's triplet team (3rd at the 2010 world championships).
Awale, the traditional game
This very popular strategy game, which in many ways resembles backgammon, is a member of the mancala family.Awale is played by two players with a board made up of two hollow half-logs with six holes each, containing the pebbles or seeds. The aim is to grab as many seeds as possible from the opponent.Awale, in its different variants, exists throughout West Africa.
Some activities to practice
Sport fishing is practiced by some amateurs (casting, trolling, big game fishing...) on the Atlantic coast, especially in the north towards Nouadhibou, in the Bay of Greyhound and towards the Banc d'Arguin National Park. The waters are very rich in fish and you can try to catch swordfish, barracudas, hake and big tuna, to name but a few. To your rods!
Kitesurfing is also an opportunity for some adventurers who love virgin and deserted spots to set up their bags in Mauritania (especially between February and September). They will be able to take out their sail around Nouadhibou as well, like at the peninsula of Cap Blanc, in the big and superb Bay of the Star, located at a dozen kilometers north of Nouadhibou, or at the Banc d'Arguin. In the region, the spots are rather flat and are adapted to all levels, even if the lack of infrastructures invites to bring one's own equipment and requires to know how to manage.
Birdwatching. In the Banc d'Arguin National Park and in the Baie de l'Étoile, budding birdwatchers will not forget to take out their binoculars to observe numerous species of migratory birds, such as sandpipers, oystercatchers, gravelots... But also cormorants, gulls, flamingos, seagulls or pelicans.
Hiking and trekking. Mauritania offers great opportunities to walkers of all levels. The desert is indeed a huge playground, whether on foot, on camelback or even in 4x4 to go as far as possible in the region of Adrar especially. Oasis, dunes of theErg Ouarane and immense plateaus offer spectacular panoramas to the walkers who can organize themselves an outing to measure, from the simple walk with picnic to the trek with nights in bivouac while passing by the camel ride.
