AFCON: 42-year-old Pelembe in Mozambique’s final squad

Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde has named his final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals scheduled for Morocco later in December.

The squad included 42-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns star Elias Domingues Pelembe.

The Mambas trainer released the final 25-member AFCON-bound squad on Saturday. The continental football panorama will run from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.

Conde told the Mozambique Football Federation media that he had trimmed his squad from 55 players after a meticulous selection process.

The coach said he had blended his squad with experienced and youthful players such as Óscar Cherene, Diogo “Calila”, Kimiss Zavala, Fernando Chamboco, Keyns Abdala, Chamito Alfândega and Melque Alexandre and Faizal Bangal.

How many players are in the squad?

The squad comprises 13 Europe-based players and the rest are drawn from Mozambique league.

The notable inclusions in the squad are Polokwane City midfielder Manuel Kambala, Sunderland FC’s defender Reinildo Mandava and Pelembe.

Another former Sundowns star and Pelembe’s UD Songo teammate Luis Miquissone has not made it.

Mozambique will compete in Group F at the AFCON finals alongside Ivory Coast, Gabon and Cameroon.

Meanwhile, Mozambique will depart for Portugal on December 15 for pre-AFCON camp training.

Full squad called Up:

Goalkeepers (3): Ernan Siluane (Associação Black Bulls), Ivane Urrubal (Ferroviário de Nacala), Kimiss Zavala (Marítimo – Portugal).

Defenders (8): Bruno Langa (Pafos FC – Cyprus), Oscar Cherene (União Desportiva de Songo), Diogo Cabral “Calila” (Santa Clara – Portugal), Infren Matola (União Desportiva de Songo), Edmilson Dove (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya – Iraq), Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland AFC – England), Edson Sitoe “Mexer” (Ankara Keçiorengucu – Turkey), Fernando Chamboco (Associação Black Bulls).

Midfielders (7): Feliciano Jone “Nené” (Abu Salim SC – Libya), João Bonde (Ferroviário da Beira), Ricardo Guimarães “Guima” (Zira FK – Azerbaijan), Manuel Kambala (Polokwane City FC – South Africa), Keyns Abdala (GD Chaves – Portugal), Alfonso Amade (Dunfermline Athletic FC – Scotland), Elias Pelembe “Domingues” (União Desportiva de Songo).

Forwards (7): Geny Catamo (Sporting CP – Portugal), Witiness Quembo “Witi” (Nacional da Madeira – Portugal), Gildo Vilanculos (Tandamon Sour Club – Lebanon), Chamito Alfandega (Académico de Viseu FC – Portugal), Stanley Ratifo (Chemie Leipzig – Germany), Melque Alexandre (União Desportiva de Songo), Faizal Bangal (AC Mestre – Italy.