Mozambique ended a 39-year wait for their first Africa Cup of Nations victory with a dramatic 3-2 win over Gabon in a pulsating Group F encounter in Agadir on Sunday.
The Mambas had arrived at the tournament having drawn four and lost 12 matches since their AFCON debut in 1986, but they finally broke that drought thanks to goals from Faisal Bangal, Geny Catamo and Diogo Calila. Mozambique led 2-1 at half-time in the Moroccan coastal city after a lively opening period.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Moussounda scored for Gabon, who twice clawed back from two-goal deficits but ultimately slipped to a second successive defeat following their opening loss to Cameroon.
Mozambique now join defending champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon on three points in Group F, with the latter two meeting later on Sunday in Marrakesh.
Catamo squandered the first clear chance of the match when a heavy touch allowed goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to rush off his line and smother the danger. Despite that miss, Mozambique — ranked 24 places below Gabon, played with greater ambition and were rewarded in the 37th minute.
Bangal, who plays for an Italian fourth-division club, rose unchallenged to meet a corner and powered a header into the left corner of the net, the ball bouncing past the helpless Mbaba.
Five minutes later, Mozambique doubled their advantage after Gabon captain Bruno Ecuele Manga was penalised for pulling the shirt of his opposite number Elias ‘Domingues’ Pelembe. Catamo converted the resulting penalty with composure, sending Mbaba the wrong way.
The Mambas threatened a third before the break when Witiness ‘Witi’ Quembo curled a long-range effort against the woodwork, but Gabon struck back in first-half stoppage time through their talisman Aubameyang. The 36-year-old Marseille striker tapped in from close range after goalkeeper Ernan Siluane failed to hold a Didier Ndong shot.
Mozambique restored their two-goal cushion seven minutes after the restart as Portugal-based right-back Calila surged forward to head Witi’s cross beyond Mbaba.
Aubameyang missed a golden opportunity to respond moments later, heading wide from point-blank range, and Mozambique sought to protect their lead by replacing the 42-year-old Domingues — the second-oldest player ever to feature at an AFCON — with defensive midfielder Manuel Kambala midway through the second half.
Siluane produced fine saves to deny Aubameyang and Ndong, but Gabon set up a tense finale when Moussounda bundled the ball home from a goalmouth scramble following a corner in the 76th minute.
Mozambique held firm in the closing stages to secure a long-awaited and historic AFCON victory.
AFP
