Mozambique’s national team has been handed a major financial boost ahead of their Round of 16 showdown against Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo has approved a special bonus of 500,000 meticais —estimated at about ₦11.3 million —for each player and member of the coaching crew if the Mambas defeat the Super Eagles and advance to the quarter-finals.
The Head of State announced the incentive while commending the team for their impressive run at the tournament, which saw Mozambique qualify for the knockout phase for the first time in their AFCON history after finishing third in Group F.
Despite suffering a 2–1 defeat to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in their final group match, the Mambas did enough to secure progression as one of the best third-placed teams.
In a message addressed to the players and technical staff, President Chapo described their qualification for the Round of 16 as a remarkable national achievement, praising the squad’s courage, discipline, and resilience throughout the group stage.
Local outlet Jornal Notícias reports that the bonus is designed to further motivate the team as they prepare for a high-stakes encounter against Nigeria, with Mozambique aiming to secure a historic quarter-final place at Africa’s premier football tournament.
The Super Eagles and the Mambas will lock horns in what promises to be a fiercely contested knockout tie, with pride, history, and significant rewards on the line.
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.
