Reinildo Mandava says his side will step onto the pitch united and fearless when they face defending champions Ivory Coast, fully aware of the size of the task but determined to seize the moment.
The experienced defender acknowledged the quality of their opponents but stressed that his team views the clash not with fear, but as a chance to compete over 90 minutes and give everything in pursuit of a positive result. “We know it’s going to be extremely difficult because they are the title holders, but we see it as an opportunity. It’s a game where we go in to win, and at the very least, not to lose,” Mandava said.
The Mozambican international also addressed the growing expectations from supporters, who are still waiting for the nation’s first major triumph after six appearances at the tournament. Mandava admitted there is a sense of pressure, compounded by the physical and mental demands on the squad, but insisted it is a challenge the players are ready to confront. “That’s true, the people are waiting, and we feel it. We’re tired too, but we want to do things differently this time,” he noted.
Determined to move beyond merely participating, Mandava emphasized that the team’s ambition is to surpass previous campaigns and show tangible progress on the big stage. While accepting the unpredictability of football, he reaffirmed the squad’s commitment to giving everything once the whistle blows. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen, but we will enter the field and everyone will give their best to do better than last time,” he concluded.