The 2025 edition of Moçambola, Mozambique’s national football championship, has come to a halt due to a critical funding shortfall. The Mozambican Football League (LMF) says it needs at least 100 million meticais – approximately 1.5 million US dollars – to cover air travel costs for the teams participating in the competition.
The interruption comes after national airline Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) suspended flight services for Moçambola clubs over unpaid ticket debts, just as the league entered its sixth round. The championship had managed to hold its first five rounds with minor disruptions, although fixtures were occasionally rescheduled due to LAM’s logistical limitations.
Of the 180 million meticais initially budgeted for the season, around 64.7% – over 116 million meticais – was allocated for air transport. This represents a sharp increase from previous years, largely due to the removal of a previous discount on ticket prices for travelling teams. The absence of these subsidies has significantly strained the league’s financial capacity.
LMF President Alberto Simango Jr. said the league currently lacks the funds to proceed. “We now need about 100 million meticais to pay for airfares. This is our biggest hurdle, especially because ticket costs have doubled compared to last season,” Simango said.
“In the past, we paid around 21,000 meticais per person. Now it’s 42,000. We understand LAM’s reasons for demanding full payment, but the reality is this increase has pushed us into a difficult financial position.”
The Moçambola has only completed one match of the sixth round – Baía de Pemba’s 2-0 victory over Ferroviário de Nampula – before the competition was suspended indefinitely. There is currently no set date for its resumption.
Simango emphasised that without government intervention, the league’s immediate future remains uncertain. “We’ve heard encouraging words from the Minister of Youth and Sports, who assured us that government support will be mobilised. But whether we resume this week or not it remains to be seen,” he said.
Despite optimism, Simango acknowledged that the issue goes beyond sports administration. “If it were only up to sporting matters, I’d say yes, we’d resume now. But this depends on the government’s capacity to act in the coming hours or days.”
No Magic Wand for the LMF Crisis
Youth and Sports Minister Caifadine Manasse met with LMF officials on Tuesday to hear their concerns. While promising to engage other government departments to find a solution, Manasse was clear that he does not have a “magic wand” to resolve the crisis overnight.
“This is a transport-related issue, so we will work with our colleagues in that sector to explore solutions,” he said, referring to LAM’s financial and structural challenges as it undergoes major reforms.
The minister assured that the government is working “tirelessly” to find longer-term strategies for the sports sector. He also committed to keeping the media informed. “The media often knows things before they happen. So we will make sure you are the first to know once a decision is made.”
In the meantime, the Moçambola remains suspended, complicating an already unusual season. The championship began later than usual and must conclude by November to allow Mozambique’s national team, the Mambas, to begin preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco this December.
