Mozambican national team head coach Abel Xavier appears to be heading out of the Black Mambas job.
Following their final Group B game in the Cosafa Cup on Thursday night against Malawi which ended 1-all at King Zwelithini stadium in Umlazi, Xavier revealed that his two-year contract is coming to an end.
They’ve finished third in this group and are heading home, having also failed to qualify to the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) next month in Egypt. Xavier, a former Portuguese international defender reveals that he’s been offered a new deal but is not sure if he will accept it.
Xavier, who was born in Nampula, a town found in the Northeastern of Mozambique but moved to Portugal at the age of five, has played his part in trying to return the Mambas to their glory days.
Xavier has played for teams like Benfica, Everton, Liverpool, Galatasaray and AS Roma just to mention a few.
He played for Portugal at the Euro 2000 and also at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
In this Cosafa Cup, they’ve drawn two matches and lost one and head home having failed to progress beyond the group stages once again.
But Xavier says the objectivity of blooding in youthful talent has been achieved.
Meanwhile Malawi will now switch their focus to the quarterfinal on Sunday where they meet their arch-rivals Zambia, the Flames started with their star player Gabadinho Mhango on the bench last night. Caretaker coach Meck Mwase.
Has the Portuguese legend #AbelXavier coached his last game for the Black Mambas of Mozambique ??? We asked him last night. #COSAFACup #SABCNews @COSAFAMEDIA @Hollywoodbets @moz_osmambas @SPORTATSABC pic.twitter.com/XCnthdrMlp
— Velile Mnyandu (@Veli_Mbuli) May 31, 2019
The ever colorful #AbelXavier ???? #CosafaCup pic.twitter.com/R8CjaTAeur
— Velile Mnyandu (@Veli_Mbuli) May 31, 2019
– Report by Velile Mnyandu