Mozambique dump coach despite AFCON heroics

Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde will not have his contract renewed, despite taking his country past the first round of the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in Morocco this month.

Mozambique had never previously won a game at the finals but beat Gabon to finish as one of the best third-placed finishers at the 2025 finals, before Nigeria thumped them 4-0 in the round of 16.

The Mozambican Football Federation (FMF) announced it would not seek to renew when Chiquinho Conde’s contract ends on Saturday. The process of hiring a new national coach has begun.

The federation met on Wednesday to analyse the performance of the team and discuss a possible extension for Chiquinho Conde, who is a former international striker for the Mambas.

Conde was invited to the meeting, but did not attend, said vice president Gervásio de Jesus.

“This was one of the essential points, aimed at analyzing and assessing the performance of the national team during the competition and other very important aspects related to infrastructure and the preparation of our teams for participation in COSAFA competitions.

“We informed the national coach about the expiration of his employment contract.”

But he also did not close the door on a return for 60-year-old Conde, who has been coach for over four years.

“From this moment on, Chiquinho is a free agent, and the federation is also free to take any position regarding this process. We are not putting pressure on ourselves.

“We will reflect in the coming days, looking at the pressing needs of a strategic plan that we propose to carry out,” De Jesus added.

Chiquinho Conde was in charge from October 2021 and renews his contract in August 2024. He took Mozambique to two successive Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast and Morocco.