AFCON: Mozambique coach embraces Nigeria challenge

Mozambique national team coach Chiquinho Conde has embraced the challenge of facing favourites Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco on Monday.

The Mambas have a mountain to climb at Fes Sports Complex, venue of the Round-of-16 game against the Super Eagles. The match will kick off at 9:00am Central African Time.

Ahead of the match, Conde, as quoted by AfricanFootball, admitted that few teams would fancy taking on the in-form Nigeria, and Mozambique is no exception.

“As a team, we know we will face the best the further we go in the tournament,” Conde said.

“We can’t say we are happy to face Nigeria because a win would have taken us away from that path or maybe if we finished second or third. Nigeria is a strong team and no one will want to play against them.”

He added: “But it is the task that we have at hand and we will approach the game like the way we do against the top teams in Africa. Show them respect but play without fear.”

Injury concerns for Mozambique ahead of Nigeria match

Meanwhile, Mozambique have injury concerns ahead of their meeting with Nigeria.

Conde is reportedly facing fitness concerns of two key defenders Nené and Diogo Calila. The duo missed some training sessions due to muscle injuries picked in the group-stage games.

Mozambique team doctor Mussa Calú confirmed that Nené and Calila suffered muscle strains during training in Agadir and are undergoing treatment.

The doctor could not guarantee the players availability for the knockout match against the Super Eagles.

The Mambas emerged from the group-stage with three points which was enough to see them through to the knock-out phase where Nigeria lie in wait.

Conde’s men lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast, Cameroon (2-1) and beat Gabon 3-2. Before the tournament got underway, Conde’s men had not reached the round-of-16 let alone won a game.

As a special incentive, Mozambique president Daniel Chapo has since promised that his government will give each player a bonus of $7,824.31 [500,000 meticais] should they beat the Super Eagles and reach the quarterfinals

In the opposite camp, Nigeria completed a perfect group campaign with three wins from three matches, finishing with nine points.