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Mozambique national football team

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by TheNaturalNapper (talk | contribs) at 11:14, 1 February 2022 (→Players). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Mozambique women's national football team.

Mozambique
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Os Mambas (The Mambas)
AssociationFederação Moçambicana de Futebol
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coachHoracio Gonçalves
Most capsTico-Tico (94)
Top scorerTico-Tico (30)
Home stadiumEstádio do Zimpeto
FIFA codeMOZ
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 98 Increase 1 (24 October 2024)[1]
Highest66 (November 1997)
Lowest134 (July 2005, September 2006)
First international
 Mozambique 2–1 Zambia 
(Mozambique; 25 June 1975)
Biggest win
 Mozambique 6–1 Lesotho 
(Mozambique; 10 August 1980)
 Mozambique 5–0 South Sudan 
(Maputo, Mozambique; 18 May 2014)
 Mozambique 5–0 Lesotho 
(Maputo, Mozambique; 2 June 2021)
Biggest defeat
 Zimbabwe 6–0 Mozambique 
(Salisbury, Zimbabwe; 20 April 1980)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances4 (first in 1986)
Best resultGroup stage (1986, 1996, 1998, 2010)
African Nations Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2014)
Best resultGroup stage (2014)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances19 (first in 1997)
Best resultRunners-up (2008, 2015)
Medal record
COSAFA Cup
Silver medal – second place 2008 South Africa
Silver medal – second place 2015 South Africa
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Southern Africa
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Zimbabwe

The Mozambique national football team (Portuguese: Seleção Moçambicana de Futebol) represents Mozambique in men's football and is controlled by the Mozambican Football Federation, the governing body for football in Mozambique. Mozambique have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, but they have qualified for four Africa Cup of Nations in 1986, 1996, 1998 and most recently the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, being eliminated in the first round in all four.

Mozambique's home ground is Estádio do Zimpeto in the capital city Maputo, and can hold 42,000 spectators. The team's current head coach is Victor Matine, who became manager in July 2019,[3] replacing previous head coach and former Portugal international Abel Xavier, who had been in charge since February 2016.[4]

History

Beginnings

On the day of independence in 1975, Mozambique played its first ever match; a friendly against Zambia, winning 2–1. Two years later, Cuba became Mozambique's first non-African opponent when the two countries met in Mozambique, with Cuba winning 2–0.[5] Mozambique entered World Cup qualifying for the first time in the 1982 qualifying competition. Mozambique were defeated 7–3 over two legs by Zaire in the first round.

1986 Africa Cup of Nations

Mozambique qualified for its first Africa Cup of Nations in 1986. In the qualifying competition they beat Mauritius, Malawi (on penalties), and finally Libya, winning again on penalties.

At the final tournament in Egypt, Mozambique were placed in Group A along with Senegal, Ivory Coast and hosts Egypt. They lost all their games 3–0, 2–0 and 2–0, not scoring a single goal.

1996 Africa Cup of Nations

Mozambique had to wait 10 years to qualify for another Africa Cup of Nations, as they qualified for the 1996 tournament in South Africa. They were placed in Group D along with Ivory Coast, Ghana and Tunisia. Mozambique played their first game against Tunisia in Port Elizabeth, drawing 1–1 with Tico-Tico scoring in the 4th minute. They then went on to lose 1–0 to Ivory Coast and 2–0 to Ghana, thus eliminating them from the tournament.

1998 Africa Cup of Nations

Two years later, Mozambique qualified for their third Africa Cup of Nations held in Burkina Faso. They were again placed in group D along with Morocco, Egypt and Zambia. Mozambique lost their first game against eventual tournament winners Egypt 2–0, both goals coming from Hossam Hassan. In their second game they again lost to Morocco 3–0, therefore eliminating them from the tournament with one game still remaining. In their last game against Zambia, they drew 1–1, their first goal of the tournament. This would prove to be their last African Cup of Nations game for 12 years.

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Mozambique entered the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification in the second round, and were placed in Group 7 with Botswana, Madagascar and African football giants Ivory Coast. They made a terrible start to qualifying, losing to Ivory Coast and minnows Botswana 1–0 and 2–1, and drawing 1–1 with Madagascar. Mozambique then went on to beat Madagascar 3–0 in Antananarivo with goals coming from Tico-Tico, Carlitos and Domingues. They then drew 1–1 with Ivory Coast and beat Botswana 1–0 in Gaborone to qualify for the third Round.

Mozambique were one of the lowest seeded teams in the third round, and were placed in Group B with Nigeria, Tunisia and Kenya. They went on to draw their first game against giants Nigeria 0–0 in Maputo. They then went on to lose their next to games against Tunisia and Kenya 2–0 and 2–1, now making it a struggle to qualify for their first FIFA World Cup. In the next game, they beat Kenya 1–0 with Tico-Tico scoring, but then a loss to Nigeria eliminated them from qualifying. In the last game they beat Tunisia 1–0 in a surprising victory that stopped Tunisia from qualifying. Despite not qualifying for the World Cup, this win was enough to secure third place and qualification for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

2010 Africa Cup of Nations

After a 12-year absence from Africa Cup of Nations football, Mozambique were placed in Group C with Egypt, Nigeria and Benin. In their first game, they played Benin, drawing 2–2 after being 2–0 down, with goals coming from Miro and Fumo. They then went on to lose 2–0 to eventual tournament winners Egypt and 3–0 to Nigeria, thus eliminating them from the tournament. After the tournament, all-time top scorer and captain Tico-Tico retired from international football.

Recent years

Mozambique have yet to reach a fifth AFCON Finals despite several close misses. During the 2013 qualifiers, they reached the final round and beat Morocco 2–0 in the first leg in Maputo. However, they were beaten 4–0 in Marrakech four days later. During the 2019 qualifiers the Mambas were only denied by a Guinea-Bissau equiliser in stoppage time at the end of their final Group K match.

Recent results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

2021

24 March 2021 AFCONQ Rwanda  1–0  Mozambique Kigali, Rwanda
15:00 UTC+2 Byiringiro 70' Report Stadium: Stade Régional Nyamirambo
Referee: Issa Sy (Senegal)
30 March 2021 AFCON Q Mozambique  0–1  Cape Verde Maputo, Mozambique
21:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Estádio do Zimpeto
Referee: Messie Nkounkou (Congo)
8 June Friendly Mozambique  1–1  Eswatini Maputo
15:00 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Estádio Nacional do Zimpeto
Referee: Lebalang Mokete (Lesotho)
7 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group B Mozambique  0–0  Zimbabwe Port Elizabeth, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Wolfson Stadium
Referee: Eldrick Adelaide (Seychelles)
9 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group B Senegal  1–0  Mozambique Port Elizabeth, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2
Stadium: Wolfson Stadium
Referee: Osiase Koto (Lesotho)
11 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group B Mozambique  2–0  Malawi Port Elizabeth, South Africa
17:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)
14 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group B Mozambique  1–0  Namibia Port Elizabeth, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Wolfson Stadium
Referee: Osiase Koto (Lesotho)
16 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Semi-finals South Africa  3–0  Mozambique Port Elizabeth, South Africa
17:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Referee: Brighton Chimene (Zimbabwe)
18 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Third place match Eswatini  1–1
(4–2 p)		  Mozambique Port Elizabeth, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
Penalties
3 September 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D Mozambique  0–0  Ivory Coast
7 September 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D Malawi  1–0  Mozambique
8 October 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D Cameroon  3–1  Mozambique Douala, Cameroon
17:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Japoma Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Marouf (Egypt)
11 October 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D Mozambique  0–1  Cameroon Tangiers, Morocco
14:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Stade Ibn Batouta
Referee: Sabri Mohamed Fadul (Sudan)
13 November 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D Ivory Coast  3–0  Mozambique Cotonou, Benin
20:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié
Referee: Ahmed El Ghandour (Egypt)
16 November 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group D Mozambique  1–0  Malawi Cotonou, Benin
14:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié
Referee: Hassan Mohamed Hagi (Somalia)

Players

Current squad

The following players have been selected friendlies against Ivory Coast and Malawi on 13 and 16 November 2021.[6]
Caps and goals updated as of 11 October 2021 after the game against Cameroon.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ernane Siluane (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 26) 11 0 Mozambique Ferroviário Maputo
1GK Víctor Guambe (1998-10-08) 8 October 1998 (age 26) 10 0 Mozambique Costa do Sol
1GK Ivane Urrubal (1997-03-01) 1 March 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Mozambique Black Bulls
2DF Zainadine Júnior (1988-06-24) 24 June 1988 (age 36) 59 1 Portugal Marítimo
2DF Mexer (1987-09-08) 8 September 1987 (age 37) 51 3 France Bordeaux
2DF Reinildo Mandava (1994-01-21) 21 January 1994 (age 30) 29 2 Spain Atlético Madrid
2DF Edmilson Dove (1994-07-18) 18 July 1994 (age 30) 26 0 South Africa Cape Town City
2DF Sidique Mussagi (1993-10-24) 24 October 1993 (age 31) 15 0 Mozambique Songo
2DF Francisco Simbine (1997-07-04) 4 July 1997 (age 27) 11 1 Portugal Marítimo
2DF Martinho Thauzene (1998-09-27) 27 September 1998 (age 26) 11 1 Mozambique Black Bulls
2DF Fidel de Sousa (1999-05-09) 9 May 1999 (age 25) 5 0 Mozambique Black Bulls
3MF Domingues (1983-11-13) 13 November 1983 (age 40) 91 16 South Africa Polokwane City
3MF Luís Miquissone (1995-07-25) 25 July 1995 (age 29) 43 9 Egypt Al Ahly SC
3MF Clésio (1994-10-11) 11 October 1994 (age 30) 35 5 Portugal Marítimo
3MF Manuel Kambala (1991-08-21) 21 August 1991 (age 33) 28 0 South Africa Baroka
3MF Witi (1996-08-26) 26 August 1996 (age 28) 24 2 Portugal Nacional
3MF Gildo Vilanculos (1995-01-31) 31 January 1995 (age 29) 18 1 Portugal Amora
3MF Geny Catamo (2001-01-26) 26 January 2001 (age 23) 11 2 Portugal Sporting CP
3MF Shaquille (1997-11-24) 24 November 1997 (age 26) 11 0 Mozambique Ferroviário Maputo
3MF Kamo-Kamo (1999-07-19) 19 July 1999 (age 25) 10 1 Portugal Vitória
3MF Geraldo Matsimbe (1992-10-22) 22 October 1992 (age 32) 8 0 Portugal AD Fafe
4FW Reginaldo Faife (1990-06-04) 4 June 1990 (age 34) 31 3 Kazakhstan Akzhayik
4FW Dayo António (1988-08-20) 20 August 1988 (age 36) 17 3 Mozambique Ferroviário da Beira

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Mozambique in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Kimiss Zavala (2002-05-08) 8 May 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Mozambique Black Bulls v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
DF Danilo Muze (1997-04-18) 18 April 1997 (age 27) 17 0 Mozambique Costa do Sol v.  Cameroon; 11 October 2021
DF Betão (1995-09-18) 18 September 1995 (age 29) 11 0 Mozambique Vilankulo v.  Cameroon; 11 October 2021
DF Cigano (1998-02-10) 10 February 1998 (age 26) 11 0 Mozambique Liga Desportiva de Maputo v.  Cameroon; 11 October 2021
DF Bruno Langa (1997-10-31) 31 October 1997 (age 27) 9 1 Portugal Amora v.  Malawi; 7 September 2021
DF Fernando Macaime (1998-07-07) 7 July 1998 (age 26) 6 0 Mozambique Desportivo Maputo v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
MF Nilton Ernesto (1996-12-08) 8 December 1996 (age 27) 16 0 Mozambique Costa do Sol v.  Cameroon; 11 October 2021
MF Cândido Mathe (1997-10-06) 6 October 1997 (age 27) 10 0 Mozambique Songo v.  Malawi; 7 September 2021
MF Salas Málico (1998-02-27) 27 February 1998 (age 26) 0 0 Mozambique Ferroviário Nampula v.  Malawi; 7 September 2021
MF Amâncio Canhemba (1997-11-16) 16 November 1997 (age 26) 5 1 Portugal Marítimo v.  Ivory Coast; 3 September 2021
MF Abel Joshua (2000-07-12) 12 July 2000 (age 24) 1 1 Portugal Vitória B v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
MF Joaquim Mapangane (1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 (age 25) 7 0 Mozambique Ferroviário Maputo v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
MF Adamo Alifa (1999-03-10) 10 March 1999 (age 25) 5 0 Mozambique Ferroviário Beira v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
MF Dilson Fumo (1983-08-06) 6 August 1983 (age 41) 2 0 Mozambique Liga Desportiva v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
FW Estevão Novela (1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 (age 28) 11 3 Mozambique Liga Desportiva v.  Cameroon; 11 October 2021
FW Melque Alexandre (1997-06-26) 26 June 1997 (age 27) 10 2 Mozambique Black Bulls v.  Cameroon; 11 October 2021
FW Victor Júnior (1999-04-04) 4 April 1999 (age 25) 9 1 Mozambique Black Bulls v.  Cameroon; 11 October 2021
FW Mário Capena (1998-12-23) 23 December 1998 (age 25) 3 0 Mozambique Costa do Sol v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021

DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
 INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
 PRE Preliminary squad.
 RET Player has retired from international football.
 SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records

See also: Mozambican international footballers
As of 18 July 2021[7]
Players in bold are still active with Mozambique.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Part of  Portugal Part of  Portugal
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978 Did not enter Declined participation
Spain 1982 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 3 7
Mexico 1986 Did not enter Declined participation
Italy 1990
United States 1994 Did not qualify 4 0 1 3 3 11
France 1998 2 0 1 1 1 3
South Korea Japan 2002 2 1 0 1 2 2
Germany 2006 2 0 0 2 3 5
South Africa 2010 12 4 3 5 10 10
Brazil 2014 8 2 3 3 7 10
Russia 2018 2 1 0 1 1 1
Qatar 2022 8 4 1 3 7 5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total – 0/22 – – – – – – 42 12 9 21 37 54

Africa Cup of Nations

African Cup of Nations record
Appearances: 4
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
Sudan 1957 Part of  Portugal
Egypt 1959
Ethiopia 1962
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970
Cameroon 1972
Egypt 1974
Ethiopia 1976 Not affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1978
Nigeria 1980 Did not enter
Libya 1982 Did not qualify
Ivory Coast 1984
Egypt 1986 Group stage 8th 3 0 0 3 0 7 Squad
Morocco 1988 Did not qualify
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992
Tunisia 1994
South Africa 1996 Group stage 14th 3 0 1 2 1 4 Squad
Burkina Faso 1998 16th 3 0 0 3 1 8 Squad
GhanaNigeria 2000 Did not qualify
Mali 2002
Tunisia 2004
Egypt 2006
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010 Group stage 15th 3 0 1 2 2 7 Squad
Gabon Equatorial Guinea 2012 Did not qualify
South Africa 2013
Equatorial Guinea 2015
Gabon 2017
Egypt 2019
Cameroon 2021
Ivory Coast 2023 To be determined
Guinea 2025
Total Group stage 4/33 12 0 2 10 4 26 —

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 1
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Ivory Coast 2009 Did not qualify
Sudan 2011
South Africa 2014 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 4 9
Rwanda 2016 Did not qualify
Morocco 2018
Cameroon 2020
Algeria 2022 To be determined
Total Group stage 1/6 3 0 0 3 4 9

COSAFA Cup

Main article: COSAFA Cup
COSAFA Cup Record
Year Rank Pld W D L GF GA
1997 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1998 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1999 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
South Africa 2008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Zimbabwe 2009 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Zambia 2013 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
South Africa 2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Namibia 2016 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
South Africa 2017 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
South Africa 2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
South Africa 2019 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0/19 - - - - - -

Honours

  • 2013 (Plate Winners)

References

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Matine takes over from Xavier as new Mozambique coach". July 22, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Mozambique appoint Abel Xavier as new national coach". January 26, 2016 – via www.bbc.com.
  5. ^ "Mozambique - List of International Matches". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  6. ^ "CONVOCATÓRIA DOS MAMBAS". Twitter. @moz_osmambas. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  7. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Mozambique - Record International Players". RSSSF.
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