Mozambique step into uncharted territory this Monday when they face Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 at the Stade de Fes, carrying both the weight of history and the freedom of outsiders with nothing to lose.
For head coach Chiquinho Conde, qualification for the knockout stages at their sixth AFCON appearance is already a landmark achievement but not the end of the journey.
Mozambique became the 33rd nation to reach the AFCON knockout rounds after recording their first-ever AFCON finals victory, defeating Gabon in the group stage. That win remains their only victory in 18 AFCON matches D4 L13, underlining how significant their current run has been.
Statistically, the challenge is immense. Mozambique have never kept a clean sheet at AFCON, conceding in all 18 matches they have played a record shared only with Zimbabwe. They have also never beaten a West African opponent, losing seven of nine matches, and failed to score in all seven defeats.
Yet Conde insists pressure lies firmly with Nigeria.
Mozambiques group-stage campaign reflected both promise and pain. They lost their final match 21 to Cameroon despite scoring first, the first time they had ever lost an AFCON match when leading. Still, they have now scored in their last two AFCON matches, something they had never achieved before in a single edition.
If they score again against Nigeria, it would mark the first time Mozambique have scored in three matches at one AFCON finals.
One of the standout performers has been Geny Catamo, who became the first Mozambican player to score in back-to-back AFCON matches, taking his tally to three AFCON goals, the most by any player from the country. Against Cameroon, Mozambiques defensive resilience was embodied by Edmilson Dove, who won nine duels and five aerial battles, the most by any player in that match.
Capitain Elias Pelembe Dominguez
For captain Elias Pelembe Dominguez, the occasion transcends statistics.
Mozambique have never played a 00 draw at AFCON, with all 18 matches producing goals, a trend that hints at an open contest despite Nigerias historical dominance in the fixture. The Super Eagles remain unbeaten in five meetings with Mozambique W4 D1, including a 30 win in their only previous AFCON encounter in 2010.
Still, Conde believes his teams journey has already reshaped perceptions.
Mozambique will be without Nen, while Edmilson remains a doubt. Calila has recovered, and Bruno Langa was rested as a precaution. Conde remains confident in his group.
As Nigerias pedigree, statistics and scoring power loom large, Mozambique arrive in Fes armed with belief, collective spirit and the freedom of a team already rewriting its history ready, as their captain insists, to compete for 90 minutes.
