After months of a tug-of-war that appeared destined to end in divorce, the Mozambican Football Federation (FMF) has been forced into a climbdown, against the wishes of its own internal structure. In the end, common sense — or political expediency — prevailed, and Mozambican coach Chiquinho Conde is set to renew his contract for a further year, with the urgency dictated by the competitive calendar.
Led by Feizal Sidat, the FMF seems to have overlooked a fundamental reality of the national football ecosystem: ownership and authority are shared. In attempting to exercise absolute control over Conde, the Federation forgot the essential symbiosis it must maintain with its main partner — the Government.
The outcome has been a “knockout” victory for public opinion and higher decision-making bodies, which have consistently viewed the national team coach as the face of the Mambas’ recent success. Conde’s continuity, therefore, is not merely a contractual matter, but a recognition of his role in restoring credibility, belief and competitive edge to Mozambican football.
For now, Chiquinho Conde remains firmly at the helm, steering the Mambas through what many hope will be a period of consolidation rather than renewed turbulence.
Renewal means Chiquinho Conde Targets AFCON 2027
With the renewal of the national coach’s contract, the Mozambican Football Federation (FMF) has avoided placing immediate pressure on any potential successor to Chiquinho Conde, the 60-year-old who has rewritten large parts of the Mambas’ history, local media say. Beyond securing two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifications, Conde led Mozambique to their first-ever victory at the continental tournament and an unprecedented place in the round of 16.
Across two spells in charge — from October 2021 to August 2024, and again from August 2024 until 31 January 2026 — Conde delivered on every objective set by the federation. In September 2023, he guided the Mambas to qualification for AFCON 2024, sealing the ticket with a dramatic 3–2 home victory over Benin on the final matchday, ending a 13-year absence from the competition.
In August 2024, the experienced Mozambican coach saw his contract extended for the first time, with a clear priority: qualification for AFCON Morocco 2025. That target was achieved in November of the same year, following a crucial 2–1 away win against Guinea-Bissau.
Conde’s tenure was further etched into history at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, where Mozambique claimed their maiden victory at the tournament. That breakthrough opened the door to a first-ever appearance in the round of 16, lifting a footballing nation long starved of success.
His journey with the national team also includes qualification for the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN), where the Mambas reached the quarter-finals for the first time — a moment widely regarded as his first “magical” achievement, preceding the milestones later reached on Africa’s biggest football stage.
The latest contract extension now places Chiquinho Conde firmly in the frame to lead Mozambique’s qualification campaign for AFCON 2027, as the federation bets on continuity following the most successful era in the national team’s recent history.
