AFCON 2025: Big names don’t win matches, Mozambique’s head coach says ahead of clash with Nigeria
Mozambique head coach Francisco Conde on Sunday said big names and jerseys don’t win football matches as he fancies his team’s chances against Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 tie on Monday.
Conde disclosed while speaking to reporters at the pre-match press conference at the Fes Stadium in Morocco on Sunday.
He stated that Mozambique will face Nigeria as a whole team, rather than setting up his game plans to stop either Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman alone.
“The strength that we have is a collective strength; we are not thinking about one player alone, either Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman, but we will play Nigeria as a whole team,” the former Vitória F.C. manager said.
“Names and jerseys don’t win games. My players have shown that when they played against several other big players.”
Commenting on the promise of a $7,000 cash gift each that Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo promised the players should they beat Nigeria on Monday, Conde praised the country’s leader as someone who loves football and pushes the team to succeed.
“This is historic. This is the first time we are in the round of 16. We are very happy and satisfied. Our president is someone who loves football. We are grateful that he is there for us and pushes us and he knows that we are able to win this game. That is the reason he made a promise to us,” he stated.
Speaking further on the efforts the team has put in place to reach a historic milestone in Morocco, Conde added that Mozambique does not have big names like Osimhen but has the commitment of both young and old players in the team.
“It is a big mix of young people and experienced players as well, so this is our strength. We don’t have Victor Osimhen, but we have Elias Pelembe ‘Dominguez’, the team’s captain, who is 42 years old and others who are 19, 20, 21 years old.”
Meanwhile, Dominguez said the players “are not intimidated by Nigeria. Football is 90 minutes and anything can happen.”
He added, “I would like to tell Mozambique people that we will fight hard where we can and we will continue fighting. To dream is free and we are going to fight till when we cannot.”
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