Mozambique aim to build on competitive showing in 2022

BEST FINISH: FOURTH (2002)
FIFA Ranking: 173
CAF Ranking: 39

Last five tournaments:

2018 – Group Stage
2019 – Group Stage
2020 – Did not enter
2021 – Group Stage
2022 – Group Stage

Mozambique were unbeaten at the 2022 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship, but that fine showing was not enough to seal a semifinal place for the second time in their history.

They defeated Mauritius 5-0 and followed that up with draws against Angola and South Africa, both by 1-1 scorelines. It was not enough to finish top of the pool and they were pipped for best runner-up across the three groups, but it was a fine showing of their potential nonetheless.

Mozambique appeared at the very first COSAFA Women’s Championship in 2002 and excelled, reaching the semifinals there before they were handed an 11-1 defeat by hosts Zimbabwe in the knockout round.

They have not managed to match that feat of a semifinal place since but can look back with pride on victories over Eswatini (2-0) and Botswana (7-1) in those inaugural championships.

They also competed in the regional showpiece finals in 2011 but managed just a single point in the pool stages. They had mixed success in 2017, losing to East African guest nation Kenya (2-5), drawing with Eswatini (2-2) and beating Mauritius (3-0). The team beat Lesotho 2-1 at the championships in 2018, but also lost to Zambia (0-3) and Central African guest nation Cameroon (1-8) to bow out at the pool stages.

The side struggled in 2019, losing all three games to finish bottom of their pool. They were defeated 1-3 by Eswatini, before a 0-4 loss to Zimbabwe and a 1-3 reversal against Angola.

The team did not compete in 2020 due to challenges around the Covid-19 pandemic but returned a year later to take their place again. They opened with a 2-2 draw against Angola, but then narrowly lost to eventual finalists Malawi 3-2 and were beaten 3-1 by South Africa.

It may have been a disappointment return in terms of points, but Mozambique showed in those games how competitive a side they are, and they will be no pushovers again.

Mozambique’s first ever international was a 3-0 win over Lesotho in 1998, with their biggest victory a 9-0 defeat of Namibia in 2006.