Mozambique’s new coach Luis Goncalves with Federation president Alberto
Simango
Luis Goncalves has been named as the new coach of Mozambique, the third in
the last month after the departure of Abel Xavier at the end of his contract
and the abrupt termination of Victor Matine’s tenure at the helm of the Mambas.
The 47-year-old Portuguese will take charge of Mozambique’s bid to qualify
for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 World Cup.
Only last month, Matine was named as a replacement for former Liverpool
defender Abel Xavier.
However, after the Mambas were eliminated in the 2020 African Nations
Championship (CHAN) qualifiers by Madagascar, the federation president Alberto
Simango had a change of heart.
Goncalves is no stranger to Mozambican football, not only born in Maputo but
having worked as Xavier’s assistant from January 2016 to May 2018 after which
he took up a job as the coach of China’s under-16 team.
Goncalves’ debut will come in just three weeks when Mozambique meet
Mauritius over two legs in the preliminary round of the World Cup qualifiers.
In November they begin their bid to qualify for the next Cup of Nations
finals in 2021, having been drawn in Group F with hosts Cameroon, Cape Verde
and Rwanda.
This is his first senior role after years of coaching juniors, including
his time at the Alcochet Academy at Sporting Lisbon, from where Cristiano
Ronaldo first emerged.
Goncalves was also a junior coach at FC Porto, Belenenses, Estoril and
Tondela – all top flight Portuguese clubs.
