The Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Mozambican Football Federation, and the Mozambican Football League met this Thursday to find ways to make the 2026 Moçambola (Mozambican Championship) viable. The three sports governing bodies, particularly in football, expressed confidence that the competition will start in April, in the traditional round-robin format with two rounds.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Caifadine Manasse, received, this Thursday, in his office, the President of the Mozambican Football Federation, Feizal Sidat, and the President of the Mozambican Football League, Alberto Simango Jr., in a meeting that also included senior officials from the Ministry and leaders from the two institutions.
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of strategic coordination and institutional commitment, focusing on creating the technical, organizational, and logistical conditions for the effective start of the Moçambola, the main national football competition.
According to Alberto Simango Jr., the results of the work carried out by the joint commissions were positive and allowed them to overcome previously identified constraints.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Caifadine Paulo Manasse, highlighted the institutional alignment achieved and welcomed this new stage for national football:
With the understanding consolidated between the Government, the Federation and the League, the Moçambola (Mozambican football league) is preparing to kick off under the sign of stability, organization and commitment to competitive excellence, renewing the hope of the fans and strengthening national sport.
Remember that the 2026 Moçambola will be contested by 14 teams, namely União Desportiva de Songo, Black Bulls, Ferroviário da Beira, Associação Desportiva de Vilankulo, Ferroviário de Maputo, Ferroviário de Lichinga, Baía de Pemba, Chingale de Tete, Ferroviário de Nampula, Costa do Sol, Ferroviário de Nacala, all coming from the 2025 Moçambola, plus the three newly promoted teams: Associação Desportiva de Pemba, from the North zone; Liga Desportiva de Sofala, from the Central zone; and Maxaquene, representing the South zone.
The 2026 season will officially begin on March 22nd with the Supertaça Mário Esteves Coluna, which will pit União Desportiva do Songo against Black Bulls.