Mozambique head coach Chiquinho Conde has admitted his side were comprehensively outplayed by Nigeria, describing the encounter as a major learning experience following their exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking after Mozambique’s heavy defeat in the round of 16, Conde acknowledged the Super Eagles’ superiority, hailing their performance as a clear demonstration of why Nigeria remain one of the tournament’s strongest contenders.
Read Also: AFCON 2025: We Still Have Lots Of Work To Do – Chelle | Sports247 Nigeria
While Mozambique anticipated a difficult contest, the coach conceded that the intensity, quality and tactical discipline displayed by Nigeria went beyond expectations.
“It was an extremely difficult match,” Conde said. “We knew we would face challenges, but perhaps not of this magnitude. We came up against a very strong opponent with pragmatic and efficient attackers.”
Conde explained that his team struggled from the opening stages, particularly in their attempts to keep possession and control the rhythm of the game.
According to him, players tasked with dictating play were unable to operate at their usual level due to Nigeria’s aggressive pressing and physical dominance.
“From the first minutes, we struggled to retain possession, and the players responsible for controlling the game could not perform as expected,” he noted.
Despite the disappointing result, the Mozambican coach was gracious in defeat, offering praise to the Super Eagles for their balance, tactical organisation and cutting edge in attack. He highlighted Nigeria’s ability to impose themselves both physically and technically as the key factor that decided the contest.
“I would like to congratulate the Nigerian team, who showed their full strength,” Conde added.
He stressed that the experience of facing elite opposition at the continental stage would be crucial for Mozambique’s growth, insisting that valuable lessons must be taken from the defeat as the team looks ahead to future tournaments.
“These are lessons we must learn from as we continue to grow,” Conde concluded, expressing confidence that AFCON 2025 would ultimately contribute to building a stronger and more competitive Mozambique side.
Nigeria dominated the round-of-16 encounter from start to finish, producing a clinical display to secure a 4–0 victory. Victor Osimhen scored twice, while Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams also found the net.
The Super Eagles booked their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 with ease and will learn their next opponents on Tuesday following the Algeria vs DR Congo clash.
Nigeria 4–0 Mozambique
Scorers: Ademola Lookman (20’), Victor Osimhen (25’, 47’), Akor Adams (70’)
