The Mozambican national soccer team held their final training session at the Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto (ENZ) on Thursday (10), with a view to the match against Eswatini tomorrow at 3pm. The match is part of the third round of Group "I" qualifying for CAN-2025, the final phase of which will take place in Morocco.

In yesterday's training session, Chiquinho Conde gave a decisive rehearsal to the team that could start and it was clear that in the center of defence David Malembana should take the place of sub-captain Mexer Sitoe, who was injured last Friday and has just been called up and even replaced by Fernando Chamboco, from the Black Bulls Association.

According to a Challenge newspaperThe player from Qatar's Al-Kharitiyath is expected to team up with Reinildo Mandava from Spain's Atlético de Madrid.

Still in defense and compared to the first two games of this campaign, last month against Mali (1-1) and Guinea-Bissau (2-1), there shouldn't be any major changes in the defensive corridors. On the left, Bruno Langa (Almeria, Spain) will keep his place in the starting line-up, while there is a slight doubt as to who the choice will be on the right, between Infren Matola (UD Songo) and Domingos Macandza (Costa do Sol).

In midfield, Nené will keep his place as defensive midfielder. In midfield, Dominguez will keep his place, pairing up with Pepo Santos. The player from Portugal's Caldas SC will take the place of the injured Guima, from Turkey's Igidir FK.

On the left, Chiquinho Conde still has to decide between Gildo Vilanculos (Académica de Coimbra, Portugal) and Witi (Dibba Al-Hisn SC, United Arab Emirates), while on the right, Geny Catamo (Sporting Clube de Portugal) is untouchable.

Finally, despite playing at home, the Mambas will start tomorrow's match with just one striker, namely Stenley Ratifo, from Chemie Leipzig in Germany.

Without Ernani Siluane (ABB), who is suspended for tomorrow's game after picking up two yellow cards in the games against Mali and Guinea-Bissau, the question remains as to who will defend the national team's goal. The options are Ivan Urubal (UD Songo) and Fazito (Fer. Nampula), with the former being the most likely due to his experience.

In a press conference, the captain of the National Football Team, Dominguez, reaffirmed the team's commitment to winning the match against Eswatini, ensuring that they remain top of Group "I" in the qualifying round for the African Nations Championship (CAN), which will be held in Morocco in 2025.

"We're in a privileged position, and our aim is to keep it for a long time," he said.

He stressed that the group is physically and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.

"We're aware of the importance of this double-header against Eswatini. We'll approach the games with the same determination as we have in previous encounters," he said.

(Photo DR)