Mozambique league champions UD Songo struggle for certification

With Mozambique’s Moçambola league kicking off on 1 May 2026, defending champions União Desportiva de Songo (UD Songo) are yet to be licenced for them to participate in the 2026 campaign.

The holders, who are based in Tete town, are among the three clubs that have been told to meet Club Licencing pre-conditions for participating in the league.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FMF (@fmfoficialmz)

In line with CAF regulations, each professional team must have clear legal ownership, infrastructure and governance structures such as a board and secretariat office, youth teams and hire qualified accountants among others.

Licenced clubs in Mozambique so far

In a statement, Mozambique Football Federation (FMF) confirmed that UD Songo have not yet satisfied the requirements alongside Pemba Sports Association and the Clube de Desportos da Maxaquene

“…three clubs namely Pemba Sports Association, the Union Desportiva de Songo and the Clube de Desportos da Maxaquene are still in the process of licensing,” reads the statement.

“This process aims to ensure that all participants comply with administrative, financial, legal and reinforcing the credibility and competitiveness of Moçambola.”

FMF says it was nearing the completion of the licencing of the 14-member league participants with most of them passing the test.

The clubs that have met the requirements are Black Bulls Association, Sports Association de Vilankulo, Baía de Pemba FC, Clube de Desportos da Costa do Sol, Clube de los Sports Chingale de Tete, Clube Ferroviário da Beira, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete, Clube Ferroviário de Tete Lichinga, Maputo Railway Club, Nacala Railway Club, Club Ferroviário de Nampula and Liga Desportiva de Sofala.

The federation also inspected match venues and certified the Lalgy Arena, the Valdemar Oliveira da Maxixe Municipal Stadium, the Municipal de Pemba, the Costa do Sol Field, the Ferroviário da Baixa Field, the 12 de Maio Stadium in Lichinga, the Afrin Stadium in Matola, the 25 de Maio Stadium June in Nampula and the 27 de Novembro Stadium in Songo, among others.

However, Municipal Field 25 of September in Moatize, home for Clube Desportos Chingale de Tete, was deemed unfit to host high-profile matches.

Moçambola challenges

Moçambola has faced severe operational challenges emanating from unsustainable club debts and logistical challenges due to the long distances between provinces which make it difficult for clubs to travel by road to fulfil fixtures.

To address the logistical challenges, Mozambique Football League and national flag carrier Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique have entered into an agreement to fly the clubs which has since been given Club Licensing pre-conditions to fulfil.

The league was initially supposed to kick off on 28 March then it was shifted to 4 April. Among other changes, a travelling team will now be playing two or more opponents from the same province on a particular weekend to reduce air ticket costs.

The changes have been made in the wake of the crisis experienced last season when Moçambola ended abruptly with three rounds of games remaining due to lack of funds.