The Mozambican clubs Ferroviário da Beira, national champions, and Associação Black Bulls, winners of the Mozambique Cup, will use the Zimpeto National Stadium (ENZ) for their matches in African club competitions in the 2024/25 season. ENZ is the only stadium in Mozambique approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host international matches.
Stadiums Approved by CAF
CAF recently released the list of approved stadiums for the African Champions League and the Nelson Mandela Cup, also known as the CAF Cup. The stadiums of the Mozambican representatives, Ferroviário da Beira and Associação Black Bulls, were not included on this list, forcing the teams to play at the Zimpeto National Stadium. This same scenario occurred the previous year with União Desportiva do Songo and Ferroviário de Maputo.
Opponents and Games
The opponents of the Mozambican clubs in the first phase of the African club competitions also face similar challenges. The stadiums of Mbabane Swallows of eSwatini and Alizé Fort of the Democratic Republic of Congo were rejected by CAF. Therefore, there is a possibility that the first leg matches of the qualifying round for the group stage will be played at the Zimpeto National Stadium. The first leg matches are scheduled for August 16-18 and August 23-25.
Licensing and Approval
Confirmation of the completion of the licensing process for the two Mozambican clubs for African competitions came last Monday. This process was submitted last June to the CAF Club Licensing Commission. In total, CAF approved 11 stadiums, with South Africa and Morocco having the highest number of approved stadiums.
Preparations and Expectations
The use of the Zimpeto National Stadium offers a quality infrastructure that meets international requirements, ensuring that Ferroviário da Beira and Associação Black Bulls can play their matches in suitable conditions. The expectation is that Mozambican fans will turn out in large numbers to support their teams in continental competitions, transforming the ENZ into a true cauldron of support and encouragement.
The teams are preparing for the African club competitions, with coaches and players focused on ensuring a competitive performance. The goal is to advance in the competitions and represent Mozambique with honor and determination, seeking to overcome challenges and achieve important victories.
The use of the Zimpeto National Stadium by the Mozambican teams Ferroviário da Beira and Associação Black Bulls for the 2024/25 African club competitions reaffirms the importance of this stadium as the main arena for international competitions in the country. With the support of the fans and careful preparation, the teams hope to achieve positive results and continue to raise the profile of Mozambican football on the continental stage.
