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 23 players were called up for the friendly matches against Niger and Mauritania on 23 and 26 March 2022, respectively.[5]

Caps and goals updated as of 16 November 2021 after the game against Malawi.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Ernane Siluane	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998	13	0	UD Songo
12	1GK	Júlio Franque	(1996-11-29) 29 November 1996	11	0	Ferroviário de Maputo
22	1GK	Ivan Urribal	(1997-03-01) 1 March 1997	0	0	Black Bulls
	2DF	Zainadine Júnior	(1988-06-24) 24 June 1988	61	1	Marítimo
17	2DF	Mexer	(1987-09-08) 8 September 1987	51	3	Bordeaux
10	2DF	Clésio	(1994-10-11) 11 October 1994	37	5	Marítimo
15	2DF	Reinildo Mandava	(1994-01-21) 21 January 1994	31	2	Atlético Madrid
13	2DF	Martinho Thauzene	(1998-09-27) 27 September 1998	12	1	Black Bulls
2	2DF	Nanani	(1996-02-08) 8 February 1996	11	0	UD Songo
5	2DF	Bruno Langa	(1997-10-31) 31 October 1997	9	1	Chaves
4	2DF	Alberto Alface	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001	0	0	Ferroviário da Beira
7	3MF	Domingues	(1983-11-13) 13 November 1983	93	16	Royal AM
11	3MF	Luís Miquissone	(1995-07-25) 25 July 1995	45	9	Al Ahly SC
6	3MF	Manuel Kambala	(1991-08-21) 21 August 1991	30	0	Baroka
8	3MF	Nené	(1996-11-15) 15 November 1996	13	0	Black Bulls
23	3MF	Shaquille Nangy	(1997-11-24) 24 November 1997	12	0	Ferroviário de Maputo
18	3MF	Amad Moumad		0	0	UD Songo
21	4FW	Telinho	(1988-10-15) 15 October 1988	43	3	Costa do Sol
	4FW	Reginaldo Faife	(1990-06-04) 4 June 1990	33	3	Dinamo Tirana
	4FW	Witi	(1996-08-26) 26 August 1996	26	2	Nacional
16	4FW	Gildo Vilanculos	(1995-01-31) 31 January 1995	19	1	Amora
14	4FW	Dayo António	(1988-08-20) 20 August 1988	18	3	UD Songo
20	4FW	Geny Catamo	(2001-01-26) 26 January 2001	13	2	Vitória de Guimarães

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	Víctor Guambe	(1998-10-08) 8 October 1998	10	0	Costa do Sol	v.  Malawi; 16 November 2021
GK	Kimiss Zavala	(2002-05-08) 8 May 2002	0	0	Black Bulls	v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
DF	Edmilson Dove	(1994-07-18) 18 July 1994	27	0	Cape Town City	v.  Malawi; 16 November 2021
DF	Sidique Mussagi	(1993-10-24) 24 October 1993	16	0	Songo	v.  Malawi; 16 November 2021
DF	Francisco Simbine	(1997-07-04) 4 July 1997	11	1	Marítimo	v.  Malawi; 16 November 2021
DF	Fidel de Sousa	(1999-05-09) 9 May 1999	6	0	Black Bulls	v.  Malawi; 16 November 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	Fernando Macaime	(1998-07-07) 7 July 1998	6	0	Desportivo Maputo	v.  Eswatini; 8 June 2021
DF	Francisco Muchanga	(1991-11-05) 5 November 1991	32	0	TS Sporting	v.  Cape Verde; 30 March 2021
DF	Jeitoso	(1991-04-05) 5 April 1991	31	3	Ferroviário	v.  Cape Verde; 30 March 2021
MF	Geraldo Matsimbe	(1992-10-22) 22 October 1992	10	0	AD Fafe	v.  Malawi; 16 November 2021
MF	Kamo-Kamo	(1999-07-19) 19 July 1999	10	1	Vitória	v.  Ivory Coast; 13 November 2021 INJ, PRE
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	6	1	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	5	0	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.