Mozambique head into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco carrying belief, history, and unfinished business. Still searching for their first-ever win at the continental finals, the Mambas are hoping this edition can mark a turning point after years of near misses and steady progress.
A long wait for a breakthrough
Mozambique have featured at the Africa Cup of Nations five times but have never progressed beyond the group stage. Across 15 matches at the finals, the team has recorded five draws and 10 defeats. Despite holding giants Egypt and Ghana to draws at Afcon 2023, they once again fell short of qualification for the knockout rounds.
Former international Manuel Bucuane, however, believes this campaign could be different. “Mozambique doesn’t always play at this level so whenever the team qualifies, it’s a big achievement for the country,” the retired striker told BBC Sport Africa. “The team is growing, there’s a lot of youngsters that are promising.”
A tough group, but renewed belief
Drawn in Group F, Mozambique face holders Ivory Coast, five-time champions Cameroon, and a Gabon side led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. On paper, it is one of the toughest groups of the tournament. Still, optimism remains strong within the camp.
“We are hoping that for the first time we can win a match or even progress to the next stage,” Bucuane said. “It’s not going to be easy. We are in a very difficult group with very strong countries, but we believe in these boys.”
The Mambas begin their campaign against Ivory Coast on Wednesday at 17:30 GMT, before facing Gabon on 28 December and Cameroon on 31 December.
Progress under Chiquinho Conde
Mozambique have qualified for back-to-back Afcon tournaments for the first time since 1998, a sign of consistency that has been missing for decades. Much of that progress has come under head coach Chiquinho Conde, who took charge in October 2021.
“Since Chiquinho Conde took over the team has been improving,” Bucuane added. “We have opened this door for players who have been naturalised to come and play for the national team. They bring competitiveness from a different environment.”
He also pointed to encouraging signs beyond Afcon. “For the very first time in World Cup qualifiers we kept the hope until the end. In Ivory Coast we showed glimpses of what we can achieve.”
Reinildo and the European influence
One major source of confidence is the growing European exposure within the squad. Left-back Reinildo became the first Mozambican to play in the Premier League when he made his Sunderland debut on 16 August after joining from Atletico Madrid.
Defender Bruno Langa and forward Geny Catamo have also gained Champions League experience this season with Pafos and Sporting CP respectively.
“Reinildo playing in the Premier League is a huge thing for the country,” Bucuane said. “He’s really carrying the Mozambique flag and opening that door in England.”
He added that the impact goes beyond individual milestones. “All that experience these players are gaining, they’re bringing it back to the national team. It puts Mozambique on the map.”
A legacy moment that still inspires
Bucuane himself holds a special place in Mozambique’s Afcon history. Nicknamed Tico Tico, he scored the nation’s first-ever goal at the finals in a 1-1 draw against Tunisia at the 1996 tournament in South Africa.
“That day was special. It was very emotional,” he recalled. “Even today, because I have the game on tape, I still watch it. It still gives me goosebumps.”
The strike remains iconic, both for its quality and its symbolism. “Those moments make you a legend,” he said. “Mozambique goes through a lot of challenges socially and football is the light that comes to shine on the people.”
As the Mambas prepare for another Afcon campaign, that hope remains alive — with belief that history may finally be rewritten in Morocco.
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