2019-04-01 World Soccer

B

y the standards

imposed on many of

his contemporaries,

Corentin Martins^

must consider himself

somewhat fortunate to

have been given time

to forge development and realise success

with underperforming Mauritania.

Four and a half years in the job –

albeit with many hiccups along the way,

including the threat of the sack – has

allowed the former France midfielder to

lead the Mourabitounes to a first-ever

Africa Nations Cup finals appearance.

Mauritania, who had previously been

counted among the continent’s whipping

boys, booked a place in June’s 24-team

finals well before the final round of

qualifiers took place in March. It was a

remarkable achievement for a country

without any pedigree in the game, but a

decision not to change the backroom

staff at the end of every qualification

cycle has made it possible for Martins

to achieve success.

“Nothing was easy,” says the 49-year-

old. “We had little margins in every match

and no real individual talent. We worked

a lot on solidarity and team spirit, and we

had four years to work together on this.

“It’s a real feat because we are a small

football nation, we do not have players

playing in big leagues. Everyone knows

we have done something exceptional. I’m

not saying it’s unexpected because the

players deserved it, they made the effort

on the field and they were rewarded.

“When I first arrived in Nouakchott,

there were 11 first division teams and

three pitches, all artificial. It was hard

to even find a place to train.

“Now there are more fields. And, most

importantly, while there was only one

championship, there is now a second

division and youth competitions.”

Martins has also built up a squad of

players, strengthening the side with

players born in France to Mauritanian

parents and also encouraging locals to

leave and find clubs in Europe.

“There are now plenty of players in

Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, France, Georgia,

Azerbaijan,” he adds. “I keep track of

them with visits and talking regularly

on the phone. In my squad there are

now 17 players based overseas.”

Mauritania navigated their way through

a qualifying group in which Angola and

Burkina Faso were expected to reach

the finals. But a 2-1 victory at home to

Botswana in November – their fourth win

in five group games – ensured progress.

“It was a game that gave me the most

satisfaction in my sporting life,” says

Martins, who was capped 14 times by

France and was a French league-and-

cup double winner with Auxerre in 1996.

“Mauritania was really a minnow

and this feat is major in the life of this

country. The tears of the players, the

leaders and the supporters after the

match said as much. It was beautiful.”

And a new contract now allows him to

pursue the dream of a World Cup place.

“I am proud that the Mauritanians

reached out to me and the football

federation president has extended

my contract twice now, ignoring the

critics,” he says. “I think it’s rare for a

coach in Africa to survive four years

in the same team!”

Mark Gleeson

Ex-France international taking Mauritania to the African Nations Cup

Corentin Martins

PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS

“Everyone knows that we have

done something exceptional”

Corentin Martins

Coach...

leading the way

Proud...Mauritania