Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Mozambique vs. Nigeria - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 14 October 2023, 22:53
Mozambique and Nigeria continue their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they square off in a friendly showdown at the Estadio Municipal de Albufeira on Monday.

Both sides, who have booked their spot in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, will be meeting for the first time since January 2014, when the Super Eagles cruised to a 4-2 victory in the Africa Nations Championship.

Match preview

Mozambique were left spitting feathers on Friday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Angola when the sides locked horns in a friendly matchup at the Estadio Municipal de Albufeira.

Following a goalless first half, the Mambas appeared on course to victory when Sporting Lisbon forward Geny Catamo broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, but Gelson Dala hit back for Angola with five minutes left to play to force a share of the spoils.

Prior to that, Mozambique needed a 95th-minute winner from 29-year-old midfielder Clesio Bauque as they scraped to a 3-2 victory over Benin in the final Group L game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on September 9.

Chiquinho Conde's men will be one of 24 nations vying for continental glory in Ivory Coast early next year after picking up 10 points from six matches to finish as runners-up in the group table, five points above third-placed Benin.

Mozambique into Monday unbeaten in six of their last seven matches across all competitions — picking up three wins and three draws — with a 1-0 defeat against Lesotho in the COSAFA Cup on July 10 being the exception.

However, next up for the East African nation is the stern challenge of taking on an opposing side who have won each of their previous three meetings, scoring eight goals and keeping two clean sheets since a goalless draw in March 2009.

Mozambique return to competitive action on November 13 when they take on Botswana in the Group G opener of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one week before taking on Algeria in the second group outing.

As it ended in their only previous meeting back in May 2010, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia settled for a share of the spoils as they played out a 2-2 draw in a friendly showdown at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao on Friday.

With Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze all failing to convert their chances in the first half, the Super Eagles found themselves behind on the hour mark when an error from goalkeeper Francis Uzoho gifted Salman Al-Faraj the opening goal.

Nigeria turned the game on its head in an eight-minute spell courtesy of an own goal from Abdulelah Al-Amri and Kelechi Iheanacho's 81st-minute strike, but substitute Mohamed Kanno restored parity 10 minutes into stoppage time.

Jose Paseiro's men were previously on a run of three wins in their final three games of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, scoring 10 goals and keeping two clean sheets to secure top spot in Group A with 15 points from six matches.

With Friday's result, Nigeria have now gone 15 consecutive friendly matches without a win, losing nine and picking up six draws since claiming a 1-0 victory over Egypt in March 2019 thanks to an early strike from Paul Onuachu.

The West African powerhouse, who are eyeing a fourth AFCON title and a first since beating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final back in 2013, have been drawn in Group A of the upcoming continental showpiece alongside Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea and host nation Ivory Coast.

Nigeria, who are currently ranked 40th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, will be looking to return to winning ways on Monday as they ramp up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Having failed to reach Qatar last year, Nigeria kick off the quest for a return to the World Cup with a home game against Lesotho in the Group C opener on November 13, one week before taking on Zimbabwe.

Mozambique friendly form:

Mozambique form (all competitions):

Nigeria friendly form:

Nigeria form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:

Team News

With his opener against Angola, Catamo now has a goal involvement in each of his last four games for Mozambique and the 22-year-old will be one to keep an eye on.

He should form the front three with Covilha man Gildo and Stanley Ratifo, who has three goals in 22 senior appearances, while Amadu and Guima should team up at the centre of the park.

Osimhen was withdrawn with a 60th-minute injury in the game against Saudi Arabia last time out and the 24-year-old striker is a major doubt for Monday's game.

Off the back of an impressive cameo against the Green Falcons, Iheanacho could replace the injured Napoli man, teaming up with Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface in the Super Eagles attack.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Maduka Okoye could be trusted in goal by Paseiro on Monday, Bruno Onyemaechi, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi and Tyronne Ebuehi retaining their roles in the back four.

Mozambique possible starting lineup:

Fasistencio; Langa, Nene, Dove, Domingos; Guima, Amadu; Witi; Catamo, Gilfo, Ratifo

Nigeria possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Onyemaechi, Bassey, Ajayi, Ebuehi; Chukwueze, Ndidi, Iwobi, Lookman; Boniface, Iheanacho

We say: Mozambique 0-3 Nigeria

Nigeria have a solid record against Mozambique and are firm favourites to come out on top, given the gulf in quality and depth between the two sides. While we expect Mozambique to put up a fight, we fancy the Super Eagles picking up the desired result once again.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.