Mozambique veteran Elias Dominguez Pelembe has officially announced his retirement from international football following the Mambas’ elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The announcement came after Mozambique’s 4-0 defeat to Nigeria in the Round of 16 on Monday, which ended the team’s historic AFCON campaign.
More than just a player, Pelembe departs the international stage as a symbol of pride, resilience, and leadership for Mozambican football.
For years, he carried the hopes of the nation, captaining the Mambas with distinction and inspiring generations of players with his professionalism and commitment.
Renowned for his elegance on the ball and calm authority off it, Pelembe consistently proved that age is no barrier when passion, discipline, and love for the game run deep.
His influence extended beyond matchdays, as he embodied the fighting spirit and unity of Mozambican football.
Widely regarded as one of Mozambique’s greatest-ever footballers, Pelembe leaves behind a lasting legacy as a true servant of the national badge — a leader, role model, and legend of the game.
Meanwhile, Sunderland midfielder Reinildo Mandava has also announced his retirement from international football following Mozambique’s exit from AFCON 2025, bringing an emotional close to the international careers of two key figures in the Mambas’ recent history.
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.
