Mozambique overcome Aubameyang and Gabon for first-ever AFCON win

Mozambique finally realised the meaning of winning a match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in their sixth appearance on Sunday. After seventeen matches without a victory, they overcame Gabon in a thrilling 3-2 result in Morocco.

Coach Chiquione Conde’s charges went into the Group F match weighed down by an unwanted record of having not won a match at the continental football showpiece. To their credit, having started the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast, Mozambique got their tactics right in the second game played at Grand Stade Agadir.

Mozambique had a dream start to the game as Italy’s AC Mestre FC striker Faisal Bangal jumped unchallenged to guide Geny Catano’s right-flank corner-kick into the net in the 37th minute.

Five minutes later, Sporting CP star Catamo scored Mozambique’s second goal from the penalty spot after sweeper Bruno Ecuele Manga pulled down veteran Elias Pelembe as he danced his way into the box.

Five minutes into added time, Aubameyang gave Gabon a lifeline when he finished from a rebound after Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan Siluane had punched Ibrahim Ndong’s shot onto the path of the former Arsenal FC skipper.

Mozambique went into the half-time break visibly deflated by the goal from Gabon who then had the wind in their sails.

Gabon started the second half with the introduction of a fresh leg of Alex Moussounda in place of Ecuele Manga. In the opposite camp, Conde responded by throwing into the battlefront Polokwane City midfielder Manuel Kambala to replace Pelembe in a defensive change.

However, it was Mozambique, who after weathering an early bombardment, cushioned their lead when left winger Witiness Quembo floated the ball across the goal-mouth where fullback Diogo Calila bounched off his header past the goalkeeper into the net.

Five minutes later, Gabon had a chance to reduce the deficit but Olympique Marseille star Aubameyang sent a diving header way off target by his lofty standards.

Aubameyang wasted another glorious scoring opportunity when he timed his run to beat the offside trap, but keeper Siluane proved equal to the task. The Black Bulls FC’s custodian punched the striker’s effort away to safety.

The pressure paid off for Gabon as they reduced the deficit through substitute Alex Moussounda ho bundled the ball across the goal-line from the crowded box after Mozambique had failed to deal with a corner-kick from the right.

Mozambique thought they had scored a fourth goal in the 89th minute through Catamo but his deflected effort into the net was ruled out for offside.

That was the final action of the end-to-end match. Mozambique held on to their lead to go third in the group on goal-aggregate while lying at par on three points with leaders Ivory Coast and Cameroon who were yet to play their respective second matches.

Mozambique will wind up their Group F assignment by playing against Cameroon on Wednesday while Gabon face Ivory Coast on the same day.