Mozambique secure first AFCON win after 39-year drought
Mozambique clinched their inaugural Africa Cup of Nations triumph after a 39-year absence by overcoming Gabon 3-2 in an exhilarating Group F encounter in Agadir on Sunday.
The Mambas entered the fixture with a record of four draws and twelve defeats from their six prior tournament outings since debuting in 1986.
Strikes by Faisal Bangal, Geny Catamo and Diogo Calila secured victory for the Mozambicans in a match that swung back and forth, with them holding a 2-1 advantage at the break in the Moroccan seaside town.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Moussounda scored for Gabon, who reduced deficits on two occasions before enduring a second consecutive defeat following their loss to Cameroon.
Defending title holders Ivory Coast, Cameroon who face off later that day in Marrakesh, and Mozambique all sit on three points apiece.
Catamo created the initial promising opportunity, yet faltered with sloppy handling that pushed the ball beyond his reach, enabling goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba to rush out and claim it.
Mozambique, ranked 24 spots lower than Gabon globally, showed greater boldness and justly forged ahead in the 37th minute via Bangal, a forward plying his trade with an Italian fourth-tier side.
Bangal leapt unmarked from a corner kick and powered a header that dipped off the turf into the net's far left side, leaving Mbaba rooted.
Mozambique extended their advantage merely five minutes later when Bruno Ecuele Manga tugged at the shirt of Elias Domingues Pelembe during a tussle between the opposing skippers.
Catamo slotted the spot-kick coolly into the left corner while Mbaba plunged the other way.
The Mambas nearly added another shortly afterwards as Witiness Witi Quembo curled a effort from distance that cannoned off the frame of the goal.
Gabon clawed back a goal five minutes into stoppage time of the first half courtesy of their most prominent player, the 36-year-old Marseille forward Aubameyang.
The 2015 African footballer of the year found himself ideally placed to bundle the ball home after Mozambique custodian Ernan Siluane spilled a Didier Ndong effort.
Portugal-resident full-back Calila netted Mozambique's third on 52 minutes, surging upfield to direct a Witi delivery beyond Mbaba.
Aubameyang spurned a chance moments later, nodding astray from close proximity in a reprieve for the Mozambicans.
Domingues, aged 42 and the second oldest participant in an AFCON, made way for defensive midfielder Manuel Kambala around the midpoint of the second period.
Siluane produced fine stops against Aubameyang and Ndong, but a following corner sparked chaos in the box that concluded with Moussounda rifling the ball home in the 76th minute, heightening the drama to the close.