Mozambique ended a 39-year wait for a first Africa Cup of Nations victory by defeating Gabon 3-2 in a pulsating Group F clash in Agadir on Sunday.
The Mambas had previously drawn four and lost 12 of their six tournament appearances since debuting in 1986. Goals from Faisal Bangal, Geny Catamo, and Diogo Calila secured a hard-fought win, with Mozambique leading 2-1 at halftime in the Moroccan coastal city.
Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Moussounda struck to halve two-goal deficits twice, but the visitors succumbed to a second consecutive defeat following their opening loss to Cameroon.
Defending champions Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique now share three points each, ahead of Ivory Coast’s clash with Cameroon later on Sunday in Marrakesh.
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Catamo had the first clear opportunity for Mozambique but mishandled the ball, allowing goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to intervene. Ranked 24 places below Gabon, Mozambique grew in confidence and took the lead in the 37th minute through Bangal, a striker plying his trade in Italy’s fourth division. Rising unchallenged from a corner, Bangal’s header bounced off the ground into the left corner with Mbaba helpless.
Five minutes later, Mozambique doubled their advantage when Bruno Ecuele Manga pulled the shirt of Elias ‘Domingues’ Pelembe. Catamo calmly converted the resulting penalty into the left corner as Mbaba dived the wrong way.
The Mambas came close to a third goal shortly after, with Witiness ‘Witi’ Quembo curling a shot from outside the box that rattled the woodwork. Gabon pulled one back in first-half stoppage time through Aubameyang, who tapped in after Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan Siluane failed to hold a Didier Ndong effort.
Calila, Portugal-based right-back, extended Mozambique’s lead to 3-1 in the 52nd minute, nodding a Witi cross past Mbaba. Aubameyang missed a close-range chance soon after, providing a reprieve for the Mambas.
Domingues, 42, the second-oldest player in AFCON history, was substituted midway through the second half for defensive midfielder Manuel Kambala. Siluane made superb saves from Aubameyang and Ndong, but a corner led to a goalmouth scramble that Moussounda capitalised on in the 76th minute, setting up a nervy finish.
