On Wednesday, the president of the Mozambican Football Federation (FMF), Feizal Sidat, used his social media to send an emphatic message to the Mozambican people. With the national team, the Mambas, facing a crucial match on Friday (November 15th) against Mali, Sidat appealed to the population to focus on supporting the team, which is one victory away from qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in Morocco.
On his Facebook page, Sidat highlighted the importance of national unity around the Mambas. He also warned of possible sanctions – including an automatic defeat and a fine – should demonstrations occur before the day of the game. This potential punishment represents a risk to the dream of seeing Mozambique represented on one of the biggest stages of African football.
“The Mambas are the people. The Mambas belong to the people. Football unites us all,” wrote the president of the FMF. For him, the success of the national team would be a victory not only for the players, but for all Mozambicans, uniting the nation in a historic moment. Sidat reaffirmed that “Mozambique is one victory away from qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco,” and that this achievement would help to put the country in the spotlight on the international stage.
Sidat's appeal is also a call for the public to go to the ENZ stadium on Friday and support the Mambas until the final whistle, shouting in unison "WE ARE IN THE CAN!" This support, according to him, is crucial to strengthen the team's spirit and bring the necessary energy to the field, where the players will give their best for Mozambique.
The FMF president also asked that public demonstrations be avoided at least until after the game, stressing that peace and focus on football are vital at this time. This appeal is an attempt to ensure that nothing distracts from what really matters now: the chance to secure a place in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Mozambican national football team has already shown grit and determination throughout the qualifiers, and the match against Mali is the final step towards achieving the goal of representing Mozambique in Morocco in 2025.
