Following the resounding 3-0 victory over Eswatini, Mozambique's national team coach, Chiquinho Conde, appeared visibly pleased at the post-match press conference. In a speech expressing confidence and acknowledging the team's good performance, Conde declared: “We won, and we won well. Now it's time to celebrate, let the players rest, go to their clubs, and then we'll think about the game against Mali on the 15th.”
The victory at Mbombela Stadium put the Mambas in a privileged position in Group I of the CAN 2025 qualifiers, and the coach highlighted the importance of seizing the moment, but also of allowing the players to recover their energy before the decisive match against Mali. Conde stressed that the focus will be redirected to the national team as the next challenge approaches, and that it is essential to give the athletes time to reintegrate into their clubs and maintain their form.
During the press conference, the Mozambican coach also addressed the issue of match times. He stated that playing at night, as happened in the match against Eswatini, was an advantage for the Mambas, since many of the players play in European leagues where matches are commonly played at that time. "It's advantageous for our players who are used to this schedule in Europe," said Conde, lamenting that night games are not yet played in Mozambique.
Chiquinho Conde suggested that holding night games in Mozambique could benefit the national team, as the players would be more comfortable and adapted to the environment, replicating the conditions they face in the international clubs where they play.
With morale high after the important victory, Conde and the Mambas are already thinking about their next challenge against Mali, scheduled for November 15th at the Zimpeto National Stadium. A win in that match could guarantee Mozambique's qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, an objective that seems increasingly within reach for the team led by Chiquinho Conde.
