Following the convincing 3-0 victory of the Mozambican national team against Eswatini, the president of the Mozambican Football Federation (FMF), Faizal Sidat, guaranteed that match bonuses will be paid this week. The statement came in response to the positive performance of the "Mambas," who now have 8 points and provisionally lead Group I of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Faizal Sidat, during his speech, congratulated the team on their victory, but warned that, despite the good moment, there is still a long way to go to qualify for the continental tournament. "We won the battle, but we haven't won the war yet," stated the president of the FMF, acknowledging that, although Mozambique is well-positioned, it is not time to relax.
The federation leader made a point of recalling the episode from five years ago, when Mozambique was eliminated in the qualifying phase against Guinea-Bissau, after a defeat that dashed hopes of participating in the Africa Cup of Nations. "If we had won in Zimpeto, I would say they can prepare the logistics, but we are still in the process," he said, emphasizing that the focus now is on maintaining the same level of performance in the upcoming games, particularly the decisive match against Mali, which will take place in November at the Zimpeto National Stadium.
Regarding the logistics for a possible participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Sidat was cautious, stating that it is premature to begin preparations. "It's still too early to start with the logistics, but we are well on our way," he declared. A victory over Mali next month could guarantee the long-awaited qualification, but until then, the president preferred to remain prudent, stating that the team must continue to focus on each game.
With the national team in good form and confidence high, both players and fans eagerly await the unfolding of the next chapters of this qualifying campaign. The promise of match bonuses serves as further motivation for the athletes, who continue to strive to place Mozambique among the giants of African football in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
