Mozambique champions UD Songo, two others finally licensed

Mozambique’s Moçambola league defending champions União Desportiva de Songo (UD Songo) have finally passed the Club Licensing test alongside two other clubs.

In a statement issued on Monday, 27 April 2026, Mozambique Football Federation (FMF) confirmed that UD Songo satisfied the licensing requirements alongside Pemba Sports Association and the Clube de Desportos da Maxaquene.

 

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“All the participating clubs in the National Championship Division have successfully completed the licensing process,” reads the statement. “An important milestone that reinforces the commitment to the organisation, transparency and raising the standards of the competition.”

What certification of UD Songo entails

The certification permits the three clubs to participate in Moçambola league kicking off on Friday, 1 May 2026.

In an earlier assessment, UD Songo and the two clubs failed to meet the Club Licencing pre-conditions for participating in the league.

In line with CAF regulations, each professional team must have clear legal ownership, infrastructure and governance structures such as a board and secretariat office, youth teams and hire qualified accountants among others.

Certified match venues in Mozambique

The clubs that met the requirements outrightly were Black Bulls Association, Sports Association de Vilankulo, Baía de Pemba FC, Clube de Desportos da Costa do Sol, Clube de los Sports Chingale de Tete, Clube Ferroviário da Beira, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete Lichinga, Maputo Railway Club, Nacala Railway Club, Club Ferroviário de Nampula and Liga Desportiva de Sofala.

FMF also carried out an inspection of match venues and certified Lalgy Arena, the Valdemar Oliveira da Maxixe Municipal Stadium, the Municipal de Pemba, the Costa do Sol Field, the Ferroviário da Baixa Field, the 12 de Maio Stadium in Lichinga, the Afrin Stadium in Matola, the 25 de Maio Stadium June in Nampula and the 27 de Novembro Stadium in Songo, among others.

However, Municipal Field 25 of September in Moatize, home for Clube Desportos Chingale de Tete, was deemed unfit to host high-profile matches.

Mozambique Football League (MFL) is trying to put its house in order after Moçambola faced severe operational challenges last season. The hitches emanated from unsustainable club debts and logistical challenges due to the long distances between provinces which make it difficult for clubs to travel by road to fulfil fixtures.

To address the logistical challenges, MFL and national flag carrier Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique entered into an agreement to fly the clubs when fulfilling fixtures.

Among other changes, a travelling team will now be playing two or more opponents from the same province on a particular weekend to reduce air ticket costs.

Last season, Moçambola ended abruptly with three rounds of games remaining due to lack of funds.