Mozambique’s national team head coach, Chiquinho Conde, has expressed his aspiration to lead his team to the FIFA World Cup. As the southern African nation prepares to resume their World Cup qualifiers against Somalia on June 7 and Guinea on June 10, Conde highlights the dreams and dedication of both players and coaching staff.
Reflecting on Mozambique’s recent performance at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Conde noted significant improvement despite the team not advancing far in the tournament.
“We wanted more despite no one believing in us,” Conde said, referring to their group-stage challenges against Egypt, Ghana, and Cape Verde.
Mozambique’s draw against Egypt in the final minutes was particularly poignant, as it prevented their progression to the next stage.
“We deserved to progress for our bravery and the way we faced the game. We were close to achieving something different, but we learned a lot,” he added.
Looking ahead to the World Cup qualifiers, Conde acknowledged the difficulty of their group, which includes Algeria and Guinea. “We are in a tough group; it’s not new. We’ve been in a difficult group before and played on equal footing with great teams,” he stated.
Despite the challenges, Conde emphasized the team’s dream of playing in the World Cup and their determination to fight for qualification with humility and respect for their opponents.
As Mozambique prepares to host Somalia in Maputo, Conde remains cautious yet optimistic.
“Theoretically, they are an opponent within our reach, but they deserve our respect and focus. We will approach the game with the same humility and responsibility,” he said. Conde is confident in playing at home, where the team feels in charge and aims to secure a positive result.
The increased number of African teams qualifying for the World Cup offers more opportunities for representation. “This is a significant step given the quality of most African players who play for major European and international teams. It opens up the opportunity for all of us to continue our dream,” Conde remarked.
