After the draw with Eswatini at the Zimpeto National Stadium, the Mozambican national team coach, Chiquinho Conde, did not hide his frustration with the result. Although the match ended 1-1, the coach stressed that, despite not losing, the draw felt like a defeat, mainly because the objective was to win all three points.
“It’s very difficult to win here,” said Conde, acknowledging the difficulties Mozambique faced in the match. The coach emphasized that Eswatini is no longer the team that many underestimate. “We knew beforehand that Eswatini had improved. I had already warned everyone about that,” he stated, praising the evolution of the opposing team.
The coach also highlighted the changes he had to make to the team's strategy due to the absence of key players such as Ernan, Guima, and Mexer Sitoe. These absences forced Mozambique to alter their game plan, compromising the performance they had been showing in previous matches. "We had to adapt to the lack of these players, which impacted our performance," Conde added.
The pressure at the Zimpeto National Stadium, a venue known for being challenging, was also mentioned by Chiquinho Conde as a factor to be considered. The coach acknowledged the importance of the next game, in which Mozambique will face Eswatini again, this time away from home, in a match he described as "all or nothing" for both teams. Having secured a draw at Zimpeto, Eswatini will now go all out at home to try and secure three points and remain strong in the competition.
Given this scenario, Mozambique needs a victory to regain control and advance in the qualifiers. Chiquinho Conde concluded his analysis by emphasizing the need for the team to reorganize and mentally prepare for the decisive challenge ahead.
