Mozambique coach Abel Xavier has named a preliminary 23-man selection for the 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup in Namibia.

The ex-Portugal international will be taking the country of his birth to a first finals since he took charge earlier this year.

Included is veteran BidVest Wits winger Elias Pelembe, but there are also a number of promising youngsters such as Luis Miquissone, José Guirrugo and Salomão Mondlane.

Mozambique will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage where they face-off against guest nation DR Congo on June 19.

The Mambas were runners-up in the 2015 COSAFA Castle Cup, losing in the final 2-0 to Namibia.

Mozambique squad:

Goalkeepers: José Guirrugo, Nelson Logomale

Defenders: João Mazive, Ronny Marcos, Mucuapel Tembe, Edmilson Dove, Edson Sitoe, João Mussica, Salomão Mondlane, Sidique Mussagi

Midfielders: Elias Samuel, Lourenço Waruma, Elias Pelembe, Manuel Kambala, Gildo Vilanculos, Luis Miquissone, Henrique Junior, Stélio Ernesto

Forwards: Reginaldo Fait, Apson Manjate, Clésio Bauque, Manuel Correia