Buenos Aires – Aritz López Garai, a name familiar to followers of Spanish football, is embarking on a unique challenge. The former Athletic Bilbao youth player is now head coach of the Mauritania national team, and on Friday, he’ll lead his squad against Lionel Messi’s Argentina at the iconic La Bombonera stadium. While the friendly may seem a mismatch on paper, it represents a significant moment for Mauritanian football and a personal milestone for the Basque coach.
The match, scheduled for 7:15 PM local time (11:15 PM GMT) on March 27, 2026, at the Alberto José Armando stadium, better known as La Bombonera, wasn’t originally planned. Argentina’s intended opponent was Spain, but logistical issues prevented that ‘Finalissima’ from materializing. Mauritania stepped in as a replacement, presenting an intriguing test for López Garai and his team.
López Garai’s journey to the helm of the Mauritanian national team is an unconventional one. Born in Basauri, Spain, in 1980, he progressed through Athletic Bilbao’s famed Lezama academy, spending two years with the club’s reserve team, Basconia. His playing career took him through a dozen clubs, including stints in Romania and Cyprus, before he retired at Reus in 2017 – the same club where he began his coaching career. He subsequently managed Numancia, and had brief spells with Tenerife, and Albacete.
“We were in the pandemic, a complicated time with a lot of uncertainty,” López Garai explained in an interview. “I didn’t know if I should wait for another project to reach along when I received a call from Luis Fuertes, the technical director of the Mauritanian Football Federation. That’s how the adventure began.” In 2023, he took charge of Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s premier club, achieving remarkable success.
At Nouadhibou, López Garai secured the league title and the Mauritanian Cup, and, crucially, guided the club to the group stage of the Champions League – a first for Mauritanian football. “It was a remarkably difficult group, but we caused an upset. No one had done it before,” he said proudly. This achievement paved the way for his appointment as the national team manager, following a period coaching the Mauritania under-20 side.
Mauritania currently sits at 114th in the FIFA rankings, a considerable distance behind Argentina, who consistently rank among the world’s elite. The estimated market value of the Mauritanian squad is reported to be just over $20 million, less than the valuation of Argentina goalkeeper Unai Simón. Despite the disparity, López Garai is determined to produce a competitive showing.
Having marked his one-year anniversary as national team coach on Monday, López Garai has already overseen positive moments, including a victory over Togo in World Cup qualifying and a near miss in qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. “We’ve had some very good moments,” he noted. “But there’s still a long way to move in terms of infrastructure and facilities. They trust us to move towards professionalization.”
López Garai divides his time between his home in Larrabetzu, Spain, and Mauritania, traveling during international windows. He maintains a scouting list of around 40 players, primarily based in Europe, with only three players from the domestic league included in his latest squad – all from Nouadhibou.
“We have a central defender at Angers, a midfielder at Lecce, wingers at AEK and Rangers… important players are emerging little by little,” he said. “European clubs are starting to capture notice of Mauritanian players, which I’m very happy about.” He is assisted by a coaching staff comprised of Spanish, Mauritanian, and Moroccan personnel.
The cultural adjustment has been a learning experience. “It’s an Islamic country with a strong Arab influence,” López Garai explained. “The thing that surprised me the most at first was prayer time. It doesn’t matter if there’s training, a team talk, or five minutes left in a match. They stop, they don’t look back, and they pray. You spot one, two, three… they take out their mats, and at that moment you understand that nothing else in the world is more important to them.”
Despite the challenges, López Garai remains focused on his long-term goals. He acknowledges his ambition to one day return to Athletic Bilbao, the club he supported as a youth, but for now, his commitment lies with Mauritania. “As a Basque and a good athleticzale, my dream was to play for Athletic. When I can, I escape to San Mamés. My father always told me that football doesn’t initiate or end with Athletic. I’ve always hoped to return, but I didn’t have the level as a player. Who knows if as a coach someday… Athletic is my life.”
Looking ahead to Friday’s match, López Garai is realistic but optimistic. “The opponent and the venue are unbeatable. We want to enjoy the occasion but too be competitive. We have to rise to the occasion,” he stated. He anticipates a strong performance from Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, whom he faced during his time at Córdoba. “I have the same memory as everyone who has played against him. It’s very difficult to find a formula to stop him. He continues to demonstrate that he is the best in history.”
The Mauritanian squad will undoubtedly be eager to obtain a souvenir from Messi, but López Garai joked that he wouldn’t get involved in that particular endeavor. He expects a challenging match, but one that will provide valuable experience for his team. The game against Argentina represents a significant opportunity for Mauritania to showcase its progress on the international stage, guided by a coach who embodies a unique blend of Basque passion and African ambition.
Next Up: Mauritania will continue their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following the friendly against Argentina. The team’s progress and development under Aritz López Garai will be closely watched as they strive to elevate their standing in African football.
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