Mozambique’s long and painful wait for success at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations finally came to an end in dramatic fashion on Sunday, as the Mambas secured their first-ever victory at the tournament and booked a historic place in the knockout stages.
Until December 28, 2025, Mozambique had never won a match at AFCON. Sixteen games across decades had passed without a single triumph. That barren run was emphatically ended at the Grand Stade d’Agadir, where Mozambique stunned Gabon 3–2 in one of the most emotional moments in the nation’s football history.
The victory was doubly significant. It not only delivered Mozambique’s maiden win at the continental tournament but also sealed their first qualification to the knockout rounds, achieved in just their sixth AFCON appearance.
Veteran defender Reinildo Mandava struggled to put the moment into words. “I still don’t have the words to explain this feeling,” Reinildo said. “I can’t find the right words to explain what I am feeling, and what everyone in the team is feeling. I am proud of myself, proud of the team, and proud of what the coach has done with this group.”
The 31-year-old, who has represented Mozambique since making his senior debut in 2013, said the impact of the victory extended far beyond the pitch.
“Everyone at home is happy. The mood is very positive, and everyone I speak to is excited for us,” he added.
For Mozambique, the breakthrough is the product of years of resilience in the face of repeated disappointment. From their AFCON debut in 1986—when an eight-team tournament ended with three defeats and seven goals conceded—to decades of near misses, success had always seemed just out of reach.
No one understands that journey better than head coach Chiquinho Conde. A member of the 1986 squad at just 20 years old, Conde returned as a player in 1996 and captained the team in 1998, experiencing campaigns filled with effort but little reward.
Now, in charge from the touchline, he has finally achieved what eluded him on the pitch.
“I was part of this team for many years and we lost all the time,” Conde said. “It was discouraging and heartbreaking because we always put in so much effort but never got the result. To achieve this now, with this new generation, means everything to me.”
Since his appointment four years ago, Conde has overseen a carefully structured rebuilding project aimed at reshaping Mozambican football.
“We created a model and adapted it to the qualities of our players,” he explained. “We identified our weaknesses, especially defensively, and started by changing the mindset. It was difficult at first, but we kept working, and the players began to believe.”
His disciplined approach included monitoring a pool of 50 players in a detailed database, forming the basis of a selection policy that drew criticism at times.
“It wasn’t easy,” Conde admitted. “But I selected players I believed in, and the important thing was that they believed in me. We worked with strict principles. If someone didn’t accept them, they had to leave. My way is structure, hard work and discipline.”
That faith has now been rewarded, with the victory over Gabon igniting belief across the squad and among supporters back home.
“This is special for us,” Conde said. “Our people needed this. They go through a lot, and we have a responsibility to make them happy. Football does that. These players are now stars—they have taken their place in Mozambique’s history.”
Reinildo dedicated the moment to the nation that stood by the team through years of struggle. “This is for the people of Mozambique,” he said. “They supported us even when we weren’t winning. Now, they deserve this joy.”
With confidence soaring, Mozambique now turn their attention to the Round of 16, where a daunting clash against Nigeria awaits on Monday night—and with it, the chance to write yet another historic chapter.
“For our country, football is everything,” Conde concluded. “We will do everything possible to keep making our people and our nation proud.”
