Mozambique Head Coach Chiquinho Conde has officially named his final 25-man squad set to represent the nation at the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
The Mambas, preparing for their sixth AFCON appearance, are banking on a blend of seasoned veterans and a fresh infusion of talent as they target a historic progression beyond the group stage.
The final list, published today, sees 16 players returning from the team that competed in the last edition in Côte d’Ivoire, providing a strong core of continental experience. They are joined by nine exciting newcomers who will be making their AFCON debut.
“The squad is balanced, combining tournament experience with exciting new talent,” stated a source close to the national team.
The backbone of the team remains intact. In goal, Ernani and Ivane Urrubal provide trusted options. The defence is bolstered by familiar names like the experienced Mexer, Reinildo, Bruno Langa, Ifren Matola, Edmilson Dove, and Nené.
Midfield mainstays Guima, Alfons Amade, Dominguez, and João Bonde are retained, expected to control the tempo of play. Up front, the attacking flair will rely on the established partnership of Ratifo, Gildo, Geny Catamo, and Witi.
Nine New Faces Seek to Make Their Mark
Conde has refreshed the squad with several young players eager to make an impact on Africa’s biggest stage. Newcomers include goalkeeper Kimiss Zavala, defenders Óscar Cherene, Diogo Calila, and Chamboco, midfielders Kambala and Kenys Abdala, and forwards Melque, Faisal Bangal, and Chamito.
The squad announcement was marked by a few significant omissions. Forward Pepo is ruled out after sustaining a serious knee injury recently while playing for his club in Portugal.
Meanwhile, regular squad member Clésio has been left out for what have been termed “technical reasons.”
Several players who featured in the previous AFCON are also missing from the final selection, including Fasistêncio Faza, Domingos Macandza, David Malembana, Shaquille, Amadou, and forward Lau King.
With the tournament kicking off on December 21st, preparations are set to begin immediately. African and Middle East-based players will start arriving in Maputo this week.
In contrast, the bulk of the Europe-based contingent will travel directly to Albufeira in Portugal’s Algarve region for a five-day training camp starting December 16th.
Mozambique faces a monumental task in their opening match on December 24th when they take on the defending champions, Côte d’Ivoire.
Mozambique TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 Squad:
