The Mambas, who had struggled for nearly 16 matches without a victory on the continental stage, finally turned their fortunes around with an impressive performance at the Stade Adrar.
The match came alive just before halftime when Faizal Bangal put Mozambique in front in the 37th minute, deftly heading home a brilliant cross from Geny Catamo. Just five minutes later, Mozambique extended their lead when Dominguês was brought down in the penalty area by Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Catamo calmly stepped up to take the penalty, placing the ball in the bottom left corner with precision.
Gabon, however, found a glimmer of hope deep into the stoppage time of the first half through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The seasoned striker capitalised on a rebound after Didier Ndong’s initial shot was parried, solidifying his legacy as one of the oldest goalscorers in AFCON finals history.
The momentum shifted back to Mozambique shortly after the break; in the 52nd minute, Diogo Calila leapt highest in the centre of the box to meet a cross from Witi, powering a header into the roof of the net and restoring the two-goal cushion.
In response, Gabon made several tactical adjustments, bringing on Alex Moucketou-Moussounda and Royce Openda to enhance their attack. The pressure from the Panthers finally bore fruit in the 86th minute when Moucketou-Moussounda found the net from close range following a corner, setting up a nail-biting finish.
Despite late efforts from Mario Lemina and Jacques Ekomié, Mozambique’s goalkeeper, Ernan Siluane, stood firm, making several critical saves to maintain their lead.
When the final whistle blew, it marked a historic achievement for Mozambique, ending a nearly four-decade wait for a win at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Post-match Reaction from Geny Catamo, the TotalEnergies Man of the Match for Mozambique, “I am incredibly proud to represent Mozambique and to have played a part in our first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. We take great pride in this win, and I hope it inspires us to keep working hard for more victories in the future. I urge everyone to keep supporting us; together we can go far, and our goal is to keep pushing ahead in this tournament.”
