The Mozambican Football Federation (FMF) has decided to withdraw from the only qualifier that would have taken the Mambas to their third CHAN event, against Zambia.

The race will take place in February next year in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The decision was taken after a board meeting this Tuesday at the headquarters of the Mozambican Football Federation.

Quoted by "O País", Feizal Sidat, president of the FMF, said that the decision was motivated by the insecurity in the country as a result of the demonstrations called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane in response to the results of the October 9 elections.

The Mozambican Football Federation is talking about the uncertainty surrounding the match at the Zimpeto National Stadium on December 22, the first leg of the single elimination round, but also the preparation process of both the Mambas and their opponents, Zambia.

With the Mambas' decision, the Chipolopolo secure qualification for CHAN-2024 without having to take to the field, thus joining hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, as well as Morocco, also qualified from the North African region.

In the southern region of Africa, which has three teams, and with Zambia already qualified, only two qualifiers remain to be played, namely between Eswatini and Madagascar and between Angola and Lesotho.