Mozambique to defend pride against Mali

Mozambique will look to avoid three straight defeats when they face Mali in their final group match of the 2014 African Nations Championship at the Athlone Stadium on Sunday at 19h00.
The Mambas are currently at the bottom of Group A with no points on the board after suffering back-to-back defeats, losing 3-1 to South Africa and 4-2 to Nigeria.


Joao Chissano’s men have no chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals but he says they will still give their best on the field and respect their country to the best of their ability.

“It (Chan) was a good experience and I am extremely proud of my players,” he told reporters. “They are a young team and for many of them it is their first time in the national team.
 "We are now going to play for the pride of Mozambique when we go out to our final match of the group against Mali.”

Mali are currently placed second in the group with four points after following up their 2-1 win over Nigeria with a 1-1 draw against South Africa.
Bafana Bafana took the lead through Bernard Parker’s first half penalty, but Ibourahima Sidibe equalised after the break to earn a point for his side, a result that coach Djibril Drame is content with.
“When a game ends up 1-1, the team who got the equaliser always feel better than the one who opened the score,” he said. “So it is a good draw against the host country.”

The Eagles, who are tied on points with South Africa, will now look to for a positive result against Mozambique to confirm their place in the knockout stages.
“I will prepare my team for our encounter against Mozambique, a team that I am following closely so I can prepare mine accordingly,” Drame added.
“My players will have to be very careful because everything is still possible.”