AFCON: ‘Pelembe plays like he is 16’: Mhango

South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) star Gabadinho Mhango has highlighted one weakness in African football when it comes to handling players of advanced age, like Elias Pelembe, who is at the 2025 AFCON with Mozambique.

The Malawian made the observation when he appeared on SuperSport TV as a pundit for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F game between Gabon and Mozambique on Sunday.

Chiquinho Conde’s men beat the West African opponents 3-2 with veteran winger Elias Dominguez Pelembe contributing Mozambique’s second goal from the penalty spot. Geny Catamo converted the penalty.

Analysing the match, Mhango singled out the fellow PSL legend Pelembe (42) as an example of how national teams and clubs in Africa can make use of experienced players.

The ex-Orlando Pirates star said it was regrettable that experienced footballers are often treated with contempt in African football.

What Gabadinho Mhango said about PSL legend Pelembe At AFCON

SuperSport TV host Thomas Mlambo had asked the Malawian to explain issues of African football and age in the context of coaches viewing players above 30 as being too old to play.

“Age is just a number. It is all about how you give the service to your team. It is about how you lift the team up. I know that in Africa, as long as you get to your 30s, you are old. In Europe, when you get to your 30s, now you become a footballer,” Mhango said.

The Richards Bay FC striker gave an example of the former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Pelembe on why players should not be judged based on age alone.

“Pelembe is 40 [actual age is 42 years old], but this is the guy who has the body of a 16-year-old. At the age of 20, you are playing for fun, but when you come to your 30s, you play football for business. There is no longer fun because you are coming to the end of your career.”

Mhango spoke from experience as he was also sidelined from Malawi national team by former coach Patrick Mabedi, a decision some believe cost the team a place at the AFCON finals.

Current coach for Malawi, Kalisto Pasuwa, recalled the former AmaZulu FC star midway through the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers. Malawi beat Namibia 2-1 with Mhango among the scorers.

The 32-year-old was again on target in the two-all draw with Liberia before he was suspended in the match against Equatorial Guinea, who did not show up in Lilongwe, and Versus São Tomé and Principle who beat Pasuwa’s men 1-0.