Mozambique’s national football team, the Mambas, have received a significant morale boost ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Round of 16 encounter against Nigeria on Monday, following a financial incentive announced by President Daniel Francisco Chapo.
President Chapo has pledged a $8,000 reward to each player and member of the technical crew if the Mambas defeat Nigeria and book a place in the quarterfinals of the continental tournament.
The incentive applies across the entire squad and backroom staff, reinforcing the government’s support for the team’s AFCON campaign.
The knockout fixture against the Super Eagles presents one of Mozambique’s biggest tests at the tournament, with Nigeria entering the contest as one of the title contenders.
A victory on Monday would not only send the Mambas into the last eight but also mark a landmark achievement in the nation’s football history.
Team preparations have intensified ahead of the decisive clash, with the presidential pledge expected to further lift confidence within the camp.
Beyond the financial reward, progression would represent a major boost to national pride and Mozambique’s growing profile on the African football stage.
The match forms part of Monday’s Round of 16 programme as the competition moves into its decisive knockout phase, where margins are slim and stakes are high.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
