Mozambique coach drops stars from COSAFA Cup squad

Mozambique’s senior national football team coach, Chiquinho Conde, has opted for more home-based players and dropped stars from his 24-member squad for the 2025 COSAFA Cup.

The Mambas manager excluded the likes of UD Songo’s winger Elias Pelembe and Kaizer Chiefs’ defender Edmilson Dove from the squad he released on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

Conde has since called up a little-known Portugal-based trio of defender Manuel Cumbane from AS Viseu, AVS Futebol SAD’s midfielder Edson Mucuana, and his CD Chaves counterpart Kayns Abdala.

Mozambique share Group A with hosts South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mauritius at the tournament running from June 4 to 15 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

For all their riches of talent boasting over 15 players in Europe, the Mambas have never won the COSAFA Cup.

The 14 teams were split into four groups, two comprising four teams each and the rest three. The winner of each group will proceed to the semifinals.

Mozambique’s Full squad:

Goalkeepers:

Fasistencio Joao (Ferroviário de Nampula), Acacio Muendane (Costa do Sol), Crimildo Mero (Clube Ferroviário da Beira).

Defenders:

Lino Jemuce, Osama Pedro, Ivan Cuboco (Costa do Sol), Cumbane (AS Viseu, Portugal), Crimildo Massuanganhe (Black Bulls), Alfredo Djedje (Baia de Pemba), Valter Nhacussa (Ferroviário da Beira).

Midfielders:

Ezequel Machava (Clube Ferroviário de Maputo), Abdalla (CD Chaves, Portugal), Ivan Joachim, Baptista Francisco (Costa do Sol), Marty Fernando, Fernando Jose, Leonel Calasao (Texafrica de Chimoio), Elias Cossa (Desportivo de Nacala), Antonia Sumbane (Black Bulls), Mucuana (AVS Futebol SAD, Portugal), Angelo Cantolo (Chingale de Tete).

Strikers:

Chamito Alfandega (Black Bulls), Kelvio Neves (Texafrica de Chimoio), Lourenco Manhique (Maxaquene).