Africa Cup Of Nations | Sunday December 28 | Group F
- Gabon 2-3 Mozambique
History had already knocked once over the weekend when Benin claimed their maiden Africa Cup of Nations win. On Sunday afternoon, it was Mozambique’s turn to answer the call.
At Stade Adrar, the Mambas wrote a long-awaited chapter of their own, beating Gabon 3–2 to secure the first three points of their AFCON history.
It was a win built on belief and bravery, the kind that turns years of disappointment into a moment worth remembering.
Mozambique played with purpose from the start, refusing to be overawed by the occasion. Their breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Freddy Bangal finished off sustained pressure to put them ahead.
Five minutes later, Geny Catamo calmly converted from the penalty spot, and suddenly the Mambas were dreaming.
Gabon reminded them of the task at hand just before the break. In first-half stoppage time, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back, keeping the contest alive and setting up a nervous second half.
That tension only grew after the restart. Mozambique found fresh belief when D. Calila struck to restore a two-goal cushion, but Gabon refused to fade. A. Moussounda’s 76th-minute goal reduced the gap to one and ensured a frantic finish.
The final minutes were about survival. Mozambique defended with everything they had, every tackle and clearance carrying the weight of history.
When the whistle finally blew, relief quickly turned into celebration. At last, the Mambas were AFCON winners leaving Botswana and Tanzania as the only teams without an AFCON win at the current finals in Morocco.
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The result lifts Mozambique to third place in Group F with three points from two matches, level with Ivory Coast and Cameroon, who face each other later. Gabon, now beaten twice, remain bottom.
