Mozambique head coach Chiquinho Conde has expressed respect for Nigeria while insisting his team will approach their Round of 16 clash with belief, calmness, and ambition as they prepare to face the Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking ahead of the high-stakes encounter, Conde described Nigeria as one of Africa’s football heavyweights and said the fixture represents a major opportunity for Mozambique.
“It’s all about the organisation of the team. Nigeria is a big team. Generally, we like this country and the people are good here,” Conde said.
“It’s a big opportunity for us to come here and play against a big country like Nigeria.”
The Mozambican tactician revealed that his technical crew have studied Nigeria closely, just as they have done with other opponents.
“We observed the Nigeria team the same way we observed others. Nowadays, as coaches, we all work the same way.”
Conde concluded by reaffirming Mozambique’s ambition to make history.
“Happy players win matches. I know my players can deliver. We are humble, but we also have the ambition to make history for our people and our lives.
“This is a big opportunity to play against a fantastic team. There is nothing more special than winning against a big opponent like Nigeria.”
Nigeria and Mozambique will battle for a place in the quarter-finals as both sides chase their respective AFCON dreams.
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.
