Mozambique hands debut to Amade in final squad as Elias Pelembe becomes oldest player in AFCON 2023

Mozambique has named their 23-man squad for next month’s African Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, with 40-year-old winger Elias Pelembe chosen as captain and former German under-20 international Alfons Amade earning his first call-up.

Pelembe, affectionately known as “Domingues” in his home country, last represented Mozambique at the AFCON in 2010 and is set to be the tournament’s oldest player when it kicks off on 13 January.

Born on 13 November 1983, Pelembe is the oldest player among all the 1,186 players listed on the provisional squad submitted to CAF by the 24 participating teams in AFCON 2023. He is two years older than Egypt’s Abdalla Mohamed and three years older than Algeria’s Adi-rais Mbolhi, Côte d’Ivoire’s Badra Sangare, Cape Verde’s Josimar José Évora Dias, and Guinea’s Aly Keita.

While Egypt’s Essam El Hadary holds the all-time record for being the oldest player in the history of the tournament at 44 years and 21 days old, a goal for Pelembe in Côte d’Ivoire will see him surpass Hossam Hassan (39 years and 174 days old) as the tournament’s oldest-ever goalscorer.

Pelembe boasts an impressive resume, having been crowned the 2007-08 Premier Soccer League (PSL) Player of the Season with SuperSport United, followed by championship wins with the club the next season and Mamelodi Sundowns in 2013-14. He also lifted the trophy with Bidvest Wits in 2016-17.

After stints at Polokwane City and Royal AM, Pelembe currently plays for UD Songo in Mozambique’s northern Tete Province. Kaizer Chiefs defender Edmilson Dove is the lone PSL representative in coach Chiquinho Conde’s squad.

The Coach of Mozambique's national football team known as Chiquinho Conde has called up 23man Squad ahead of January's AFCON2023 with suprise called up of the former 🇩🇪Germany U20 Alfonso Amade current playing with Belgian club 🇧🇪Ostende .#IvoryCoast #AFCON2023 #Mozambique pic.twitter.com/0NOVyAnDQO

— 🇲🇿Mozambique TheMambas #WCQ #WCQ2026 (@moz_osmambas) December 22, 2023

The Mambas squad also features defensive midfielder Amade, who previously played for Germany at the U-20 level but has switched allegiances to Mozambique. He is yet to make his debut for the national team.

Portuguese-born midfielder Guima, who scored on his debut in September, and Atletico Madrid fullback Reinildo, who last played for Mozambique in June during their qualification campaign, are also included.

Mozambique finds themselves in Group B alongside Egypt, Cape Verde Islands, and Ghana. Their opening match against Egypt takes place in Abidjan on January 14.

Mozambique AFCON 2023 squad:

• Goalkeepers:

Ernan (UD Songo)
Fazito (Ferroviario Nampula)
Ivane (Associacao Black Bulls)

• Defenders:

Edmilson Dove (Kaizer Chiefs)
Infren (UD Songo)
Bruno Langa (Chaves)
Domingos Macandza (Costa do Sol)
David Malembana (Noah)
Mexer (Bandirmaspor)
Nene (Associacao Black Bulls)
Reinildo (Atletico Madrid)

• Midfielders:

Alfons Amade (KV Oostende)
Amadou (Ferroviario Beira)
Clesio Bauque (Honka)
Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisbon)
Elias Pelembe (UD Songo)
Guima (Chaves)
Joao (Ferroviario Beira)
Gildo Lourenco (Sporting Covilha)
Shaquille (Ferroviario Maputo)
Witi (Nacional)

• Forwards:

Lau King (Sagrada Esperanca)
Stanley Ratifo (CFR Pforzheim)