Mozambique coach Dario Monteiro says the match against Malick Daf’s Cubs will be a huge challenge for his side as they seek their first win of the TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Young Os Mambas of Mozambique will be back in action on Wednesday when they face Group A leaders Senegal at the Cairo International Stadium.
The COSAFA runners-up held hosts Egypt in the opening match of the ongoing tournament but admit the clash with Senegal will be much tougher.
“A big challenge awaits us in front of a strong team whose first match we watched,” the Os Mambas coach said.
The Young Teranga Lions of Senegal opened their account with a narrow 1-0 victory over record champions Nigeria to occupy top spot and Monteiro expects a tough contest.
“We will be playing our second match in the tournament against a strong team, but we believe in our chances and we will play to win,” Monteiro told journalists in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.
Dario says his team will battle to achieve their objectives in the tournament while reaffirming Mozambique’s chances of progressing to the latter stages.
“No one can predict the future, but we have ambitions and chances that we will fight for in the competition.”
Midfielder Jose Rabelina Zavala joined Monteiro at the press conference to look ahead to their important second match in Cairo.
“Senegal is a very strong team,” Associaçao Black Bull ace said.
“We want to qualify to the quarter-finals of the tournament and we will fight as a team to achieve our targets.”
