AFCON: Why Mozambique are yet to start training

With the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals on the bend, Mozambique’s Mambas are yet to start camp training.

It has transpired that the Mambas are yet to regroup because domestic league and cup fixtures are still underway in the former Portuguese colony. During the week, Black Bulls edged Ferroviario de Maputo 1-0 in a Mozambique Cup semifinal.

The CAF Confederation Cup participants will now date UD Songo in the final of the national cup. All the teams involved have contributed some players to Chiquinho Conde’s AFCON-bound squad.

Who is in the Mozambique squad?

Consequently, the national team will only regroup on Monday, according to the Federation of Mozambique Football (FMF) head of marketing and communication Stenor Tomo.

“Camp starts on the 15 December in Algarve, Portugal. Local players are still engaged in competitions and internationals will join straight from their base,” Tomo told Pan-Africa Football.

Conde named his final squad for the AFCON finals scheduled for Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. The squad includes 42-year-old former Mamelodi Sundowns star Elias Domingues Pelembe who is on the books of UD Songo.

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

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.

Mozambique’s full squad:

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.