Elias “Domingues” Pelembe is the key name in Luis Goncalves’ 20-man strong squad for the Mambas international friendly against Kenya next week.
Mozambique will be facing Kenya at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi on Sunday, 13 October.
It has been three years since the two sides faced in an international match. Mozambique lost 1-0 to Kenya at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos but it was ultimately the Mambas who dominated the match.
Mozambique parted ways with coach Victor Matine in August just days after Abel Xavier, who led the team in their last friendly against Kenya, was shown the door due to poor performance.
Goncalves hasn’t changed the squad that played in Mozambique’s last 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier too much and only three of the 23-man squad that travelled have missed out.One of those is José António Lampião, who featured as a substitute against Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.
As was the case ahead of the Cup of Nations qualifier, Mozambique’s attacking threat is notable. The squad contains the likes of Witi, Rafito and Reginaldo.
Domingues, who fell out with Xavier, has been recalled, but there is no place for attacking pair Fernandes Becharda and Mustafa Salimo.
The Mambas will begin their planning with a camp in Maputo before leaving for Kenya on 10 October, just three days before the international friendly match.
Both teams will use the friendly to access readiness for AFCON 2021 qualifiers which will begin next month.
The Mambas begin their Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in November and have been drawn in Group F with hosts Cameroon, the Cape Verde Islands and Rwanda.
Mozambique full squad
Goalkeepers: Guirrugo (UD Songo, Mozambique), Franque (Ferroviario de Maputo, Mozambique)
Defenders: Zainadine (CF Maritimo ,Portugal), Malembana (PFC Lokomotiv Plovdid, Bulgaria), Chico (Ferroviario de Maputo, Mozambique), Infren (UD Songo, Mozambique ), Edmilson(Cape Town FC, South Africa), Reinildo (Lille FC, France), Sidique (Grupo Desportivo de Maputo ,Mozambique)
Midfielders; Telinho (UD Songo, Mozambique), Kamabala (Baroka FC, South Africa), Cremildo (UD Songo, Mozambiqueo), Kamo Kamo (Vitoria FC, Portugal), Dominguez (Bidvest Wits, South Africa), Geny Catamo (Sportif CP, Portugal)
Forwards: Neymar (Vitoria FC, Portugal), Witi (CDNational, Portugal), Ratifo (CfR Pforzhelm, Germany), Miquissone (UD Songo, Mozambique), Reginaldo (Shakhter, Kazakhstan)
