Mozambique national football team

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.[4] 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The following players have been selected friendlies against Ivory Coast and Malawi on 13 and 16 November 2021.[5]
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	11	0	Ferroviário Maputo
	1GK	Víctor Guambe	(1998-10-08) 8 October 1998	10	0	Costa do Sol
	1GK	Ivane Urrubal	(1997-03-01) 1 March 1997	0	0	Black Bulls
	2DF	Zainadine Júnior	(1988-06-24) 24 June 1988	59	1	Marítimo
	2DF	Mexer	(1987-09-08) 8 September 1987	51	3	Bordeaux
	2DF	Reinildo Mandava	(1994-01-21) 21 January 1994	29	2	Lille
	2DF	Edmilson Dove	(1994-07-18) 18 July 1994	26	0	Cape Town City
	2DF	Sidique Mussagi	(1993-10-24) 24 October 1993	15	0	Songo
	2DF	Francisco Simbine	(1997-07-04) 4 July 1997	11	1	Marítimo
	2DF	Martinho Thauzene	(1998-09-27) 27 September 1998	11	1	Black Bulls
	2DF	Fidel de Sousa	(1999-05-09) 9 May 1999	5	0	Black Bulls
	3MF	Domingues	(1983-11-13) 13 November 1983	91	16	Polokwane City
	3MF	Luís Miquissone	(1995-07-25) 25 July 1995	43	9	Al Ahly SC
	3MF	Clésio	(1994-10-11) 11 October 1994	35	5	Marítimo
	3MF	Manuel Kambala	(1991-08-21) 21 August 1991	28	0	Baroka
	3MF	Witi	(1996-08-26) 26 August 1996	24	2	Nacional
	3MF	Gildo Vilanculos	(1995-01-31) 31 January 1995	18	1	Amora
	3MF	Geny Catamo	(2001-01-26) 26 January 2001	11	2	Sporting CP
	3MF	Shaquille	(1997-11-24) 24 November 1997	11	0	Ferroviário Maputo
	3MF	Kamo-Kamo	(1999-07-19) 19 July 1999	10	1	Vitória
	3MF	Geraldo Matsimbe	(1992-10-22) 22 October 1992	8	0	AD Fafe
	4FW	Reginaldo Faife	(1990-06-04) 4 June 1990	31	3	Akzhayik
	4FW	Dayo António	(1988-08-20) 20 August 1988	17	3	Ferroviário da Beira

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