After seven matches in the qualifying rounds for the FIFA World Cup™, Mauritania were still waiting for their first victory, but it eventually came against Zimbabwe in a pre-preliminary qualifying round match for for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ on Friday 14 November 2003.

Johan Langlet and Ahmed Sidibe scored twice for Mauritania in the opening ten minutes and although George Mbwando pulled one back for the visitors six minutes from the end, the home side held on to a historic victory.

Despite the 4-2 aggregate defeat, Mauritania were definitely showing signs of progress. Now with former coach Mohamed Salem Ould Harouna back in place after the sacking of Alain Moizan, they will be hoping to gain further momentum on the road to South Africa 2010.