Mauritania move top of Group I following a hard fought 1-0 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Angola at the Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya in Nouakchott on Tuesday.

Victory moves the hosts up to nine points, two points above Burkina Faso who were held to a goalless draw away to Botswana at the same time.

The Zebras have duly seen their hopes of booking a ticket to Cameroon come to an end, with Al-Murabitun, Palancas Negras and the Stallions to fight for the two qualifying places up for grabs in the last two rounds of qualifiers.

Angola, who sit in third place with six points, beat Mauritania 4-1 in the reverse fixture at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Friday.

The Southern African’s, though, unsurprisingly found life a lot tougher in Mauritania with the hosts claiming yet another scalp on their home soil despite a late charge from the visitors.

Abdoul Ba scored the only goal of the game in the 18th minute to lead Mauritania to all three points, and ever closer to a first Afcon appearance.