Mauritania and Sudan face off at Stade de la Capitale on Thursday in the third match of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The hosts are still in search of their first win in this qualifying series but the visitors will hope they maintain the pace from their opening two matches.

Mauritania began the World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 defeat at DR Congo before settling for a goalless draw away at South Sudan.

The Lions of Chinguetti have one point so far and are second from bottom, level with bottom-placed South Sudan. However, they will be hoping to improve their standing when they play their first home game on Thursday against Sudan.

Since their last World Cup qualifying matches, Amir Abdou‘s side have played seven matches, with four of those coming in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations where they reached the round of 16.

In those matches, Mauritania lost four times, drew twice and won just once, which has shown little sign that they have improved. However, they will be facing opponents they defeated on their way to the last AFCON.

Both sides have met three times in the past, with the hosts winning twice during the qualifying series for the 2023 AFCON after losing the first ever meeting between them.

Sudan have started this World Cup qualifying series like a team that means business, gaining a 1-1 draw against Togo before a 1-0 win over DR Congo.