Mozambique Football Federation hunts for young dual national talent

Mozambique Football Federation

The Mozambican Football Federation (FMF) has unveiled a master plan to integrate young players from the Mozambican diaspora into the country’s junior national teams’ set up.

While most football associations go for rejects from Europe, FMF is looking for young players aged between 12 and 20 years in the Diaspora to join the junior national teams.

“Mozambican Football Federation is looking for talent in the diaspora! Young people between the ages of 12-20, living abroad, can apply for integration in the national base teams (U-15, U-17 and U-20), men's and women's,” FMF’s statement reads.

In an exclusive interview with Pan-Africa Football, FMF president Fizal Sidat said they want to strengthen their junior national teams for the future benefit of the senior team, the Mambas.

He said the Mambas excel because of the fusion of home-based players with those from the Diaspora.

Sidat said the FMF technical department is hunting for talent in Diaspora, targeting players who were either born in Mozambique or those whose parents have roots in the former Portuguese colony.

“We are looking for young players interested in playing for the Mozambique national teams. They have to have either the father or the mother born in Mozambique or with roots in Mozambique,” he said.

The FMF boss said this talent scouting programme was modelled around those of European countries such as France, Denmark and Germany, which have players with roots from other countries.

“We have many players in Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. They can start slowly in the junior teams. It is the same thing with countries like France,” he said.

The Mambas’ squad includes many players drawn from Europe such as Reinildo Mandava (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Bruno Langa (UD Almería, Spain), Alfonso Amade (Septemvri Sofia, Bulgaria), Ricardo Guimarães "Guima" (Zira FK, Azerbaijan), Pedro Santos "Pepo" (Caldas SC, Portugal), Stanley Ratifo (Chemie Leipzig, Germany) and Geny Catamo (Sporting CP, Portugal).

Guima, Pepo ( and Ratifo are notable players recruited who were born outside the country.

The Mambas have been one of the most improved teams after qualifying for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.