Chiquinho includes Reinildo in Mozambique’s final AFCON 2023 squad

Mozambique’s coach Chiquinho Condé, unveiled on Friday the final list of players called up for the AFCON 2023 which will take place in Cote D’Ivoire from January 13 to 11, 2024.

At the end of a first preparations phase lasting eleven days in Maputo, the Mozambican technician selected 23 players including 13 expatriates.

Among them, the young defensive midfielder Alfons Amade playing for KV Ostend in the Belgian second division.

After a stint in the German youth selections (38 selections from U15 to U20), the native of Heidelberg is celebrating his first call-up and will perhaps experience his first selection during the AFCON.

Left back Reinildo Mandava returns to the list for the first time since June 2022, and the second day of the qualifiers against Benin (0-1 victory).

Returning to the field with Atletico Madrid in mid-November following a cruciate ligament injury which kept him away from the field for 301 days, he played his first 17 minutes of the season on Saturday, during the victory against Sevilla (1-0) in the Spanish La Liga. There is also several regulars like central defender Mexer (Bandirmaspor).

The Mambas will travel to Johannesburg next Thursday, where they will carry out their second phase of preparations until January 9, 2024.

After which, they will travel to Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

The expatriates will join the rest of the group in South Africa. Geny Catamo, Guima, Witi and Bruno will arrive camp last.

During their stay in SA, the Mambas will face Lesotho in a friendly on January 6, before two other matches planned against teams which have yet to be confirmed.