Connector assembly with robust latching means

An electrical board-to-board connector assembly comprising:

• first and second connectors adapted to be mated with each other,
• the first connector including a first insulative elongated housing defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction thereof perpendicular to each other, and a first mating port with a pair of first retention sections at two opposite ends thereof along the longitudinal direction;
• a plurality of first contacts disposed in the first housing along said longitudinal direction with first contacting sections exposed in the first mating port;
• a pair of first retention devices disposed upon the corresponding first retention sections, respectively, each of said first retention devices including a first elongated bar extending along the transverse direction, and a pair of planar retention arms connecting directly with two opposite ends of the elongated bar and extending along the longitudinal direction and defining respective locking recesses facing inwardly to each other in the transverse direction;
• the second connector including a second insulative elongated housing defined by said longitudinal and transverse directions and defining a second mating port with a pair of opposite second retention sections at two opposite ends thereof;
• a plurality of second contacts disposed in the second housing along the longitudinal direction with second contacting sections exposed in the second mating port;
• a pair of second retention devices disposed on the corresponding second retention sections, respectively, each of said second retention devices including a second elongated bar unitarily lying only in a vertical plane and extending along the transverse direction with two locking end structures spaced from and facing away from each other in said transverse direction and adapted to be outwardly engaged with the locking recesses of the corresponding retention arms, respectively when the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other.