Mozambique national football team

On the day of independence in 1975, Mozambique played its first ever match; a friendly against Zambia, winning 2–1. Two years later, Cuba became Mozambique's first non-African opponent when the two countries met in Mozambique, with Cuba winning 2–0.[4] Mozambique entered World Cup qualifying for the first time in the 1982 qualifying competition. Mozambique were defeated 7–3 over two legs by Zaire in the first round.

Mozambique qualified for its first Africa Cup of Nations in 1986. In the qualifying competition they beat Mauritius, Malawi (on penalties), and finally Libya, winning again on penalties.

At the final tournament in Egypt, Mozambique were placed in Group A along with Senegal, Ivory Coast and hosts Egypt. They lost all their games 3–0, 2–0 and 2–0, not scoring a single goal.

Mozambique had to wait 10 years to qualify for another Africa Cup of Nations, as they qualified for the 1996 tournament in South Africa. They were placed in Group D along with Ivory Coast, Ghana and Tunisia. Mozambique played their first game against Tunisia in Port Elizabeth, drawing 1–1 with Tico-Tico scoring in the 4th minute. They then went on to lose 1–0 to Ivory Coast and 2–0 to Ghana, thus eliminating them from the tournament.

Two years later, Mozambique qualified for their third Africa Cup of Nations held in Burkina Faso. They were again placed in group D along with Morocco, Egypt and Zambia. Mozambique lost their first game against eventual tournament winners Egypt 2–0, both goals coming from Hossam Hassan. In their second game they again lost to Morocco 3–0, therefore eliminating them from the tournament with one game still remaining. In their last game against Zambia, they drew 1–1, their first goal of the tournament. This would prove to be their last African Cup of Nations game for 12 years.

Mozambique entered the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification in the second round, and were placed in Group 7 with Botswana, Madagascar and African football giants Ivory Coast. They made a terrible start to qualifying, losing to Ivory Coast and minnows Botswana 1–0 and 2–1, and drawing 1–1 with Madagascar. Mozambique then went on to beat Madagascar 3–0 in Antananarivo with goals coming from Tico-Tico, Carlitos and Domingues. They then drew 1–1 with Ivory Coast and beat Botswana 1–0 in Gaborone to qualify for the third Round.

Mozambique were one of the lowest seeded teams in the third round, and were placed in Group B with Nigeria, Tunisia and Kenya. They went on to draw their first game against giants Nigeria 0–0 in Maputo. They then went on to lose their next to games against Tunisia and Kenya 2–0 and 2–1, now making it a struggle to qualify for their first FIFA World Cup. In the next game, they beat Kenya 1–0 with Tico-Tico scoring, but then a loss to Nigeria eliminated them from qualifying. In the last game they beat Tunisia 1–0 in a victory that stopped Tunisia from qualifying. Despite not qualifying for the World Cup, this win was enough to secure third place and qualification for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

After a 12-year absence from Africa Cup of Nations football, Mozambique were placed in Group C with Egypt, Nigeria and Benin. In their first game, they played Benin, drawing 2–2 after being 2–0 down, with goals coming from Miro and Fumo. They then went on to lose 2–0 to eventual tournament winners Egypt and 3–0 to Nigeria, thus eliminating them from the tournament. After the tournament, all-time top scorer and captain Tico-Tico retired from international football.

Mozambique have yet to reach a fifth AFCON Finals despite several close misses. During the 2013 qualifiers, they reached the final round and beat Morocco 2–0 in the first leg in Maputo. However, they were beaten 4–0 in Marrakech four days later. During the 2019 qualifiers the Mambas were only denied by a Guinea-Bissau equaliser in stoppage time at the end of their final Group K match.

The following players were called up for the 2023 AFCON qualification match against Benin on 9 September 2023.

Caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2023, after the match against Benin.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Ernani	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998	23	0	Songo
	1GK	Víctor Guambe	(1998-10-08) 8 October 1998	16	0	Costa do Sol
	1GK	Ivane	(1997-03-01) 1 March 1997	7	0	Black Bulls
	1GK	Fazito	(2003-06-09) 9 June 2003	2	0	Ferroviário de Nampula
	2DF	Mexer	(1988-09-08) 8 September 1988	57	3	Bandırmaspor
	2DF	Chico	(1991-11-05) 5 November 1991	41	0	Costa do Sol
	2DF	Danilo	(1997-04-18) 18 April 1997	32	0	Costa do Sol
	2DF	Martinho	(1999-09-27) 27 September 1999	29	1	Black Bulls
	2DF	Nené	(1996-11-15) 15 November 1996	23	1	Black Bulls
	2DF	Bruno Langa	(1997-10-31) 31 October 1997	14	1	Chaves
	2DF	Bheu Januário	(1993-08-11) 11 August 1993	13	1	Songo
	2DF	Domingos	(1998-06-17) 17 June 1998	6	0	Costa do Sol
	2DF	David Malembana	(1995-10-11) 11 October 1995	3	0	FC Noah
	2DF	Chamboco	(1998-06-15) 15 June 1998	1	0	Black Bulls
	3MF	Domingues	(1983-11-13) 13 November 1983	102	16	Royal AM
	3MF	Telinho	(1988-10-15) 15 October 1988	59	4	Costa do Sol
	3MF	Shaquille	(1997-11-24) 24 November 1997	33	0	Ferroviário Maputo
	3MF	Melque	(1997-06-26) 26 June 1997	28	4	Black Bulls
	3MF	Nelson	(1993-06-20) 20 June 1993	24	3	Costa do Sol
	3MF	Amadú	(1996-12-03) 3 December 1996	23	0	Songo
	3MF	Dário	(1996-01-20) 20 January 1996	13	0	Songo
	3MF	João	(1997-01-09) 9 January 1997	11	0	Ferroviário Beira
	3MF	Ali Abudo	(1999-02-03) 3 February 1999	4	1	Costa do Sol
	3MF	Guima	(1995-11-14) 14 November 1995	1	1	Chaves
	4FW	Clésio	(1994-10-11) 11 October 1994	45	7	Honka
	4FW	Witi	(1996-08-26) 26 August 1996	33	3	Nacional
	4FW	Gildo	(1995-01-31) 31 January 1995	28	3	Covilhã
	4FW	Dayo António	(1995-08-20) 20 August 1995	23	4	Songo
	4FW	Stanley Ratifo	(1994-12-05) 5 December 1994	23	3	1. CfR Pforzheim
	4FW	Geny Catamo	(2001-01-26) 26 January 2001	19	4	Marítimo

The following players have been called up for Mozambique in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Gion Chande	(1998-05-03) 3 May 1998	1	0	Vaduz	v.  Senegal, 28 March 2023
DF	Danito	(1995-06-15) 15 June 1995	3	0	Songo	2023 COSAFA Cup
DF	Edmilson Dove	(1994-07-18) 18 July 1994	36	0	Kaizer Chiefs	v.  Rwanda, 18 June 2023
DF	Zainadine Júnior	(1988-06-24) 24 June 1988	64	1	Marítimo	v.  Senegal, 28 March 2023
DF	Nanani	(1996-02-08) 8 February 1996	22	0	Songo	v.  Senegal, 28 March 2023
DF	Foia	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001	2	0	Ferroviário Beira	v.  South Africa, 17 November 2022
MF	Gianluca Lorenzoni	(2001-02-22) 22 February 2001	2	0	Gudja United	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Ezequiel Machava	(2003-01-03) 3 January 2003	1	0	Ferroviário Maputo	2023 COSAFA Cup
MF	Manuel Kambala	(1991-08-21) 21 August 1991	38	0	Magesi	v.  Rwanda, 18 June 2023
MF	Keyns	(2003-03-15) 15 March 2003	0	0	Maputo	v.  South Africa, 17 November 2022
FW	Isac de Carvalho	(1989-07-26) 26 July 1989	48	6	Costa do Sol	v.  Senegal, 28 March 2023
FW	Luís Miquissone	(1995-07-25) 25 July 1995	48	9	Al Ahly	v.  Senegal, 28 March 2023
FW	Lau King	(1995-09-04) 4 September 1995	17	3	Songo	v.  South Africa, 17 November 2022
FW	Ling	(2001-10-15) 15 October 2001	2	0	Ferroviário Beira	v.  South Africa, 17 November 2022
FW	Yude	(1997-06-19) 19 June 1997	5	0	Ferroviário Maputo	v.  South Africa, 17 November 2022
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player has retired from international football. SUS Suspended from the national team.