Defending champions Mozambique will be back to defend their HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship title when the competition is played in Durban from September 25-October 1.

Mozambique stormed to the title last year as they brought their fork on the continental stage to the regional competition.

This year’s tournament will have special significance too as they prepare to host the Beach Soccer Cup of Nations from October 21-30, where they will also be gunning for gold.

Their run to the COSAFA title last year included an 8-3 win over Comoros, before they were run close by Tanzania, drawing their group stage game 4-4 but winning 4-3 on penalties. There has to be a winner in beach soccer games.

They eased past South Africa 5-3 in the semifinals, before meeting Tanzania again in the decider, this time running out 3-1 winners.

This year they will meet west African guest nation Senegal, Seychelles and South Africa in the pool stages.

Mozambique were runners-up to hosts Senegal in the last Beach Soccer Cup of Nations that was played in 2021.

It is their best finish in the continental competition as they made a return to the finals for the first time in 12 years.

Their maiden appearance was in 2007 when they did not get past the group stages. The following year produced the same result.

They returned again in 2009 and this time made the knockout rounds but ended sixth after being pipped by Morocco in the fifth-place match.

Mozambique topped their pool with a full haul of three wins in 2021, and then beat Uganda 6-3 in the semifinals. They lost 4-1 to Senegal in the final, but still did enough to book their place at the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, where they exited at the first stage.

 

MOZAMBIQUE AT THE 2021 COSAFA BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
MP      W        L          GF        GA
4          4          0          20        11

Results:
Group Stages
Mozambique 8-3 Comoros
Mozambique (4)4-4(3) Tanzania

Semifinals
Mozambique 5-3 South Africa

Final
Mozambique 3-1 Tanzania

 

MOZAMBIQUE AT THE BEACH AFCON

APP     MP      W        L          GF        GA
4          14        6          8          48        75

Finishes
2007 – Group Stages
2008 – Group Stages
2009 – Sixth
2021 – Second