JOHANNESBURG: Mauritania warmed up for a vital 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against four-time champions Cameroon next weekend by beating Gabon 2-0 Saturday in Barcelona.
Ismael Diakite put the rapidly improving team from north-west Africa ahead soon after half-time and Boubacar Bagili sealed success with a final-minute goal.
Victories at home to Cameroon and away to South Africa in September would take Mauritania to the biennial African football showpiece for the first time.
Coached by former France midfielder Corentin Martins, Mauritania stunned South Africa 3-1 in Nouakchott last year after holding Cameroon for 89 minutes in Yaounde before losing.
Gabon, who were without star striker and reigning African Footballer of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, will host the 2017 Cup of Nations.
Senegal, needing one point in Burundi next weekend to seal qualification for the tournament, prepared with a 2-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.
Both goals came during the opening half with Stoke City striker Mame Biram Diouf opening the scoring and midfielder Younousse Sankhare doubling the lead.
Rwanda host Mozambique next weekend and must collect maximum points to keep alive slim hopes of a second Cup of Nations appearance having qualified 12 years ago.
Kenya face Tanzania in Nairobi Sunday in another warm-up match, but the twice postponed fixture between Botswana and Malawi scheduled for Francistown has been cancelled.
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