In a result that will be forever etched in the annals of African football, the Mozambique national team, affectionately known as the Mambas, finally shed their long-held status as the nearly-men of the continent by securing their first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
In a dramatic, nerve-shredding encounter at the Grand Stade Agadir in Morocco, they overcame a valiant Gabon side 3-2, ending a forty-year wait that spanned six tournaments and sixteen previous attempts. The triumph, achieved through goals from Faisal Bangal, Geny Catamo, and Diogo Calila, catapults their dream of reaching the knockout stages into the realm of possibility while simultaneously leaving Gabon’s tournament hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The sheer weight of history facing Mozambique as the match kicked off cannot be overstated. Since their tournament debut in 1986, their record stood as a unique and unwanted one: sixteen matches played across five previous AFCON appearances without a single victory, the only team in the competition’s history to bear that distinction.
Their five draws and twelve defeats painted a picture of perennial competitors who had never quite crossed the final threshold. Under the steady guidance of coach Chiquinho Conde, who has overseen a period of stability culminating in back-to-back qualifications for the first time since 1998, there was a sense that this squad was ready to rewrite its own story.
Their opponents, Gabon, entered the match under their own intense pressure, having lost their opening Group F fixture 1-0 to Cameroon and desperate to avoid a second defeat that would imperil their entire campaign. With the Panthers boasting a formidable attack led by the legendary Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the stage was set for a classic clash of necessity.
From the opening whistle, it was Mozambique who channeled their historical burden into positive energy, playing with an attacking verve and tactical discipline that belied their underdog status. The Mambas created the better chances in the early exchanges, with the lively Witi striking the post just before halftime and Sunderland defender Reinildo heading wide from a corner.
The sustained pressure finally told in the 37th minute. A corner, an area where Mozambique had already looked dangerous, was delivered with precision and met by the unmarked Faisal Bangal, who guided a powerful header home to send the Mozambican fans into raptures. The dam of history had been breached.
Just five minutes later, the floodgates seemed to swing open. The 42-year-old Mozambican winger and elder statesman Elias Pelembe was hauled down in the penalty area by Gabon captain Bruno Ecuele Manga, prompting the referee to point immediately to the spot.
Sporting CP’s Geny Catamo stepped up and displayed nerves of steel, sending goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba the wrong way to double the lead. At that moment, a famous victory seemed not just possible, but inevitable.
Football, however, has a habit of scripting dramatic twists, and Gabon, with their veteran talisman, refused to be cast aside so easily. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Didier Ndong unleashed a thunderous drive from distance. Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan Siluane could only parry the powerful shot, and there, with the instincts of a world-class striker, was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to pounce on the rebound and stab the ball home.
Aubameyang’s goal, which made him one of the oldest scorers in AFCON history, was more than a mere consolation; it was a lifeline that changed the complexion of the halftime team talks, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with virtually the final kick of the half and swinging momentum back toward the Panthers.
The psychological blow of conceding so late could have crippled a less-resilient team, but Mozambique emerged for the second half with their conviction restored. Just seven minutes after the restart, they delivered what would prove to be the decisive blow. Witi, a constant menace on the left flank, produced a moment of individual brilliance, surging past his marker to whip in a beautiful, curling cross.
Arriving with perfect timing was rampaging right-back Diogo Calila, who powered a textbook header into the roof of the net to restore the two-goal cushion at 3-1. The goal was a testament to Mozambique’s adventurous spirit and tactical plan, a reward for their courage to push forward even when protecting a lead.
What followed was a breathless, end-to-end battle as Gabon threw everything forward in search of salvation. The introduction of substitutes like Alex Moucketou-Moussounda and Royce Openda injected fresh urgency into their attack.
Mozambique’s goalkeeper, Ernan Siluane, transformed into a hero, producing a series of crucial interventions. He made a fantastic double save at one point and later kept out a fierce effort from Jacques Ekomie. His heroics, however, could not prevent Gabon from scoring a second.
In the 76th minute, another corner led to a frantic goalmouth scramble. Siluane made the initial save, but the ball fell to Moucketou-Moussounda, who was in the right place to tap home from close range, setting up a grandstand finale with the score at 3-2.
The final twenty minutes were an exercise in pure tension and endurance. Gabon, with 56% possession, laid siege to the Mozambican goal. Mario Lemina, who had started at center-back but was pushed into midfield as Gabon chased the game, flicked a near-post header too close to Siluane.
At the other end, Catamo thought he had sealed the game, only for his strike to be ruled out for offside after a flick off a teammate. Every clearance, every tackle, and every second on the clock was met with roars from the Mozambican supporters. When referee Mehrez Melki finally blew the full-time whistle, the explosion of emotion was both visceral and historic.
Players collapsed to the turf in tears of joy and exhaustion, while coach Chiquinho Conde embraced his staff, having masterminded a victory forty years in the making.
The aftermath of the final whistle paints two starkly different pictures.
For Mozambique, ranked 102nd in the world, the victory is a transformative achievement. They now sit on three points in Group F, level with giants Ivory Coast and Cameroon, whom they will face in their final group match. For the first time in their history, their fate in the tournament is in their own hands; a result against Cameroon could see them achieve another miracle by advancing to the knockout stages.
Geny Catamo, named TotalEnergies Man of the Match, encapsulated the national sentiment: “I am very proud to represent Mozambique and to have made my contribution to Mozambique’s first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations… We can go far, and our mindset is to keep pushing on in this tournament”.
For Gabon, the atmosphere is one of profound disappointment and looming elimination. The defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom of Group F with zero points from two matches. Their final game is against the defending champions, Ivory Coast, and even a victory may not be enough to secure progression, depending on other results.