Mauritania's president accused of halting football game in 63rd minute for penalty shoot-out

The country's football association has been forced to deny the president's alleged intervention

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz speaking during the world climate change conference (Getty)

Sometimes a football game can drag on. Fortunately, one leader decided enough was enough and reportedly intervened to force the match into a decisive penalty shoot-out.

Mauritania’s football association has been forced to deny rumours the country’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ordered a penalty shoot-out in the 63rd minute of the Super Cup final.

Mr Abdel Aziz is reputed to have become frustrated with the slow pace during FC Teyragh-Zeina and ACS Ksar’s match last weekend.

The match was abruptly drawn to a close at 1-1, to the amazement of the crowd, before the players were marshalled into a shoot-out by the referee.

Unsurprisingly, the decision has reportedly caused outrage among Mauritanian fans with the president’s office forced to officially deny such an action ever took place.

“I deny in the strongest terms the intervention of the President of the Republic,” his office said in a statement. “The decision was made due ​​to organisational issues in accordance with the presidents and the coaches of the two teams.”