2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Mozambique recall veteran Pelembe, ex-Chiefs star Dove

Mozambique’s senior national football team coach Chiquinho Conde has recalled veteran Elias Pelembe and off-loaded Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove.

The duo has earned their places in the Mambas’ provisional 54-member squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Botswana next month.

Pelembe, a former winger for Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United, plays for UD Songo in Mozambique. Conde had dropped the 41-year-old from recent games after a reported fallout. On the other hand, defender Dove is a free agent after being released by Chiefs in the pre-season.

Sunderland AFC’s new signing Reinildo Mandava is the other notable inclusion in the squad. The Mambas will host Botswana on September 8, 2025 and Guinea in October at a later date.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) gave temporary greenlight for the Mozambican Football Federation to host international matches at Zimpeto Stadium.

Full tentative squad:

Goalkeepers; Ernan Alberto Siluane, Fascistencio João Faza (Fazito), Acacio Edmilson Muendane (Kaka), Ivane Official Urrubal, Kimiss Zavala.

Defenders; Sundays João Macandza, Edmilson Gabriel Dove, Bruno Alberto Langa, Reinildo Isnard Mandava, Infren of the Conception Matola, Diogo Calila, Oscar Benjamim Cherene, Bruno Wilson, Bheu António January, Fernando Macaime, Francisco Muchanga (Chico), Martinho Thauzene, Edson André Sitoe (Mexer), Feliciano Jone (Nené), Fernando Data Chambuco, Alberto Alface (Foia).

Midfielders; Amade Momade (Loved), Alfonso Amade, João Bonde, Ricardo Martins Guimarães (Guima), Manuel Nhanga Kambala, Keyns Abdala, Ezequiel Idalina Machava, Dario Melo, Pedro Miguel Neves Santos (Pepo), Aly Abudo Zacarias, Shaquille Nangy, Luis José Miquissone, Clésio Palmirim Bauque, Geny Cipriano Catamo, Jonathan Eusébio Muiomo, Elias Gaspar Pelembe (Sundays), Witiness João Quembo (Witi), Gildo Lourenço Vilanculos, Sapane Fabio Zunguze (Sampaio), Edson Mucuana Lobo, Stelio Marcelino Ernesto (Telinho).

Strikers; Amancio Canhembe (Neymar), Stanley Ratifo, Faizal Bangal, Alcides David, Antonio Sumbane, Angelo Tomas Cantolo, Elias Macamo, Chamito Lamborino, Pachoio Lau Ha King (Lau King), Dayo António, Melque Melito Alexandre, Tomas Tomo Adolfo Mahumane.