Mauritania 4

 

Squad Pic
vs. Rwanda (0:1) | World Cup Qualifier | 2008 in Mauritania

I once uploaded this shirt here - then dismissed it from my collection, as it is missing the FA badge. But now, I think it should be here again. Mostly, because Mauritania and their shirts at the time were just crazy and there is a good chance that this was absolutely used in a match. But even if not, it is at least a match prepared shirt that is just missing that badge, which is still very collectible.

If you wonder how I am so sure about this: Well, it is coming straight from a Mauritania match! Many moons ago, FIFA would publish a list of match agents registered in each country. In Mauritania was just one - and he happened to have a German phone number. So I did the logical thing and just called him. He was lovely and promised to try and help. It took almost a year until he finally went back to Mauritania, right at a time when the national team was playing. He packed in this shirt and posted it to me from Germany, where he lives, a few weeks later. I am grateful for his help, indeed, and even if the batch is missing, it is probably the closest anyone ever got to a legit Mauritania shirt of 2008. So it must be here.