Magharebia

Mauritel SA is the new sponsor of Mauritanian football. Mauritanian Football Federation (FFRIM) chief Ahmed Ould Yahya and the Mauritel CEO Karim Okba signed a three-year partnership agreement in Nouakchott on Monday (June 4th).

In exchange for some half-million euros, the Mauritanian telecommunication company's logo will appear on stadium billboards, and national and domestic championship team shirts.

The contract was "based on lasting relationships for the success of football in Mauritania", the Mauritel head said. "In three years, Mauritanian football will be transformed," Okba added.

The sponsorship contract comes at a good time for the Mauritanian federation, which just received notification from CAF that its suspension would be lifted in time for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The African football body banned Mauritania from the 2013 and 2015 CAN competitions following the Mourabitounes' withdrawal from the 2012 CAN qualifiers. The Mauritanian federation appealed the decision to CAF, which agreed to allow the national team back onto the continental stage.