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African Cup of Nations 2010: Mozambique Team Guide

Mozambique’s first qualification in ten years is testament to the significant improvement made by the country under coach Mart Nooij. So speculation linking the manager to the vacant Nigerian post could not have come at a worse time, as the Mamba’s prepare for the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Football in Mozambique is in better shape than it has been for many seasons, and many attribute the recent success of the side to Mart Nooij. One of many Dutch coaches working abroad, Nooij has worked at the Dutch FA at various levels and with Burkina Faso taking their youth team to the FIFA World Youth Championships in 2003 for the first time. That prompted the Mozambique FA to invite him to take over at the helm of the national side, and a significant improvement in results has been the immediate outcome.

Whilst Mozambique may have failed to qualify for the World Cup to be held in South Africa, their performances in qualifying forced many to take notice. Third place behind Nigeria and Tunisia was enough to get them to their first Cup of Nations since 1998. It was also enough to encourage speculation that Nooij could be one of the candidates to take over at their recent opponents Nigeria, even before the African Cup of Nations starts.

Fortune favours the brave

The Mozambique arrival in Angola came after something of a bumpy ride after finishing the first group stage with only eight points in second behind the Ivory Coast. Indeed they were the lowest ranked of the sides in the runners-up position to go through, and have the withdrawal of Eritrea and the exclusion of Ethiopia from other groups to thank for their progress.

As a result of some groups only having three teams in them, only results accrued against the first and third placed teams counted when the runner up sides were ranked, with only eight places available for twelve countries overall. Mozambique actually lost at home to the bottom side in their group Botswana, so had all results counted from their section they wouldn’t have done enough to rank in the top eight positions. As it was five points from their matches against the Ivory Coast and Madagascar was just enough for them to squeeze through ahead of the Gambia, who amassed more points overall in their group and five points from their ranking games, but had an inferior goal difference.

Furthermore there were several third-placed teams in various groups, such as Uganda, Libya and Senegal, who actually gained more points than Mozambique in their six qualifying matches, but weren’t eligible as only second placed teams were taken into consideration. Therefore the Mambas certainly have good fortune to thank that they even got through to the second group stage.

Second round qualifying confirmed what first round qualifying had also illustrated. On their home patch Mozambique can give most African sides a good game as they took wins against Kenya and Tunisia and a draw from the match against Nigeria. However three straight defeats on the road took their toll on their chances of making it to South Africa next summer, and they will have to content themselves with a place only at the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Looking for improvement

With away form so patchy, there are concerns over exactly how Mozambique will fare away from Maputo, their capital city, during the tournament. This will be their fourth participation in the African Cup of Nations, and with just one draw to their credit accumulated over past three tournaments, hopes will be high that they can at least make a better impact in 2010.

Back in 1998 when Mozambique last appeared they equalled their worst ever performance slumping to three straight defeats and recording a goal difference of minus seven, after suffering reverses to Morocco, Egypt and Zambia.

Squad

Goalkeepers � Albino Cossa (Liga Muculmama), Kapango (Tersana), Lama (Ferroviario Maputo)

Defenders � Simao Junior (Panathinaikos), Paito (Sion), Fanuel (Liga Muculmama), Whiskey (Ferroviario Maputo), Miro (Platinum Stars), Dario Khan (Al-Kharitivath), Zaindine Junior (Desportivo de Maputo), Samuel Chapanga (Maxaquene), Mexer (Sporting Clube de Portugal)

Midfielders � Momed Hagi (Ferroviario Maputo), Mano (ENPPI), Domingues (Mamelodi Sundowns), Danito (Ferroviario Maputo), Ze Luis (Baladevet El-Mahalla), Josimar (Costa do Sol)

Attackers � Tico-Tico (Jomo Cosmos), Dario (Supersport United), Helder Pelembe (Maxaquene)

Players to Watch

At 36, Tico-Tico is approaching the veteran stage of his career but the all-time leading goal-scorer in the South African Premier League shows no signs of stopping just yet. Scorer of several important goals on the route to the 2010 African Cup of Nations, Tico-Tico formed an excellent striking partnership with Dario, both of whom have a strike record of roughly 1 in every 4 games at senior international level.

The rising star of the team is undoubtedly Panathinaikos based defender Simao Junior. After arriving in relative anonymity he has caught the eye with some outstanding performances in Greece, most notably in midfield, but also in defence, Nominated by one Italian sports-newspaper as one of the most promising players in Europe, the 21-year-old will play a vital role at the tournament for Mozambique and potentially for many years to come.

Fixtures

12th Jan � Benin

16th Jan � Egypt

20th Jan � Nigeria

Prediction

Mozambique appear to have been able to hang onto Mart Nooij, at least for the time being. With such an outstanding impact it would be a shame if Nooij was lured away at this stage, as Mozambique are only gradually beginning to realise their potential. The group stages will give the Mozambique FA a chance to assess the gap between them and the best Africa has to offer in the shape of record winners and defending champions Egypt and one of Africa’s representatives at the World Cup Nigeria. Chances are they will find there is still much to do if Mozambique are to ever challenge at the very highest level on the continent. Nevertheless the opening encounter against Benin at least gives Mozambique a decent chance of recording their first ever win at the tournament.

Posted by Walter Townsend on Wednesday, 6th January 2010

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