Mozambique defeated Botswana 2-0 in Maputo in the 2026 World Cup African qualifiers, moving to second place in Group G and keeping their historic World Cup dream alive.
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The Mozambican national football team secured an important victory on Monday afternoon, defeating Botswana 2-0 at the Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo, in a Group G clash of the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The result keeps the “Mambas” firmly in contention for a historic qualification and lifts them to provisional second place in the standings, giving renewed hope to their passionate supporters.
The home side made their intentions clear from the very beginning of the match. Mozambique pressed high up the pitch and wasted no time in breaking the deadlock. After just six minutes of play, winger Witi, who currently plays for Portuguese side Nacional da Madeira, found space inside the box and calmly slotted the ball past the Botswana goalkeeper. The early goal electrified the crowd of nearly 15,000 fans, who filled the Zimpeto stands under the daytime restriction imposed by CAF. From that point on, Mozambique controlled the rhythm of the game, using quick transitions and width on the flanks to stretch the Botswana defense.
Botswana, meanwhile, tried to reorganize and maintain possession, but their attacking moves rarely troubled the Mozambican defense. The backline, marshalled effectively by Calila of Santa Clara, showed great composure in dealing with the few counter-attacks launched by the visitors. Sporting CP’s Geny Catamo also impressed, providing creativity in midfield and linking up effectively with Witi and striker Stanley Ratifo, keeping Botswana under constant pressure.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Mozambique dictating the tempo and looking for the insurance goal to put the game beyond doubt. That breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Faizal Bengal, introduced in the second half to add fresh energy, capitalized on a well-worked move and doubled Mozambique’s advantage. His strike was met with jubilation from the crowd, as fans sensed the importance of the three points in the race for World Cup qualification.
With this victory, Mozambique now has 15 points, sitting in second place in Group G. They trail leaders Algeria, who top the group with 18 points and were scheduled to face Guinea later in the day. Uganda, on 12 points, also remains in the mix as they prepared to face Somalia in a parallel fixture. The outcome of these matches could have further implications on the group’s standings, but Mozambique’s focus is now firmly set on maintaining consistency in their remaining qualifiers.
The return to the Zimpeto National Stadium added an emotional layer to the occasion. After months of restrictions, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) gave authorization in early August for the venue to host international fixtures again. However, matches are currently limited to daylight hours and capped at a maximum attendance of 15,000 spectators due to ongoing infrastructure concerns. Despite these conditions, the supporters created a vibrant atmosphere, rallying behind their team from the opening whistle to the final celebrations.
For Mozambique, the dream of reaching the World Cup for the first time in their history remains alive. The stakes are enormous: only the winners of each of the nine qualifying groups will secure automatic tickets to the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico between June 11 and July 19, 2026. Meanwhile, the four best second-placed teams across all groups will enter a playoff stage to determine a potential 10th African representative.
This result further highlights the progress made by coach Chiquinho Conde and his squad in recent months. Under his leadership, the team has shown more tactical discipline, improved attacking efficiency, and a renewed sense of belief. The contributions of players based in Europe, such as Catamo, Witi, and Calila, continue to be crucial, blending experience and technical ability with the hunger of local talents.
As the qualifying campaign intensifies, Mozambique will face more decisive fixtures that could ultimately determine their World Cup fate. But for now, the victory over Botswana represents a significant step forward not only in terms of points, but also in boosting the confidence of a nation that dares to dream of seeing its flag represented on football’s biggest stage.
Updated: 04:56, 8 Sep 2025
