Mozambique will square off with Angola in the 2023 COSAFA Cup Group C match at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in South Africa on Friday.
Kick-off is at 6:00 pm CAT.
CURRENT FORM
The Mambas secured a 2-0 victory over Rwanda away in a 2023 Afcon qualifier on June 18 as they snapped their five-match winless run across all competitions.
However, Mozambique are winless in their last two matches in the COSAFA Cup having registered two consecutive defeats against Namibia and Senegal.
Meanwhile, Angola claimed a 2-1 win over Central African Republic away in a 2023 Afcon qualifier on June 17 as they snapped their five-match winless run across all competitions.
Palancas Negras lost their last game in the COSAFA Cup which was against Botswana and the defeat ended their four-match unbeaten run in the regional tournament.
TEAM NEWS
The Angolan Football Federation (FAF) has announced that Zeca Amaral will be in charge of a youthful Palancas Negras side during the COSAFA Cup.
While Chiquinho Conde, who masterminded Mambas' victory over Rwanda last month, will once again be in charge of the team in Durban.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Mozambique coach Chiquinho Conde
“A victory in the first round against Angola could raise the team's motivational indices. So we have to do our utmost to see if we can achieve that desire," Conde said on OPais.
"It is true that it will not always be possible, but our spirit will always be that way. The most important thing is that we will fundamentally maintain the backbone of the Chan national team, including some U23 and U20 players.
"It is important to convey the international experience and support these players, creating a bridge to the A team."
Angola coach Zeca Amaral
"Let's discuss game by game. We have to do it game by game, and only the results will define our performance," Amaral said in a press conference
"We would like to give a guarantee [that we will win], but that's why we are going there [Durban]. It's football and anything can happen. We want to show as a team that when we enter the field we give our best and bring good results.
"We want to go to the next stage and, if we can reach the semifinals, then play the final."
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the 24th meeting between Mozambique and Angola across all competitions.
Palancas Negras have the upper hand having won seven matches compared to the Mambas' five victories, while 11 matches ended in a draw.
The last meeting between the two teams was in March 2017 and Mozambique emerged as 2-0 winners in a friendly game played in Maputo.