Pelembe to lead Mozambique against Bafana

Elias Pelembe of Bidvest Wits challenged by Sipho Moeti of Baroka FC during the Absa Premiership match between Baroka FC and Bidvest Wits at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on September 20, 2016 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Nov 09, 2016. 15:36

Mozambique skipper Elias Pelembe will be expected to give South Africans a good run for their money when the two nations meet in a friendly next week.

The Mambas will host Shakes Mashaba's side on Tuesday, 15 November in Maputo, with Pelembe forming part of the 28-man squad.

Coach Abel Xavier will want to see his skipper replicating his form that has made him one of the most feared wingers in the South African Premier Soccer League for Bidvest Wits.

Reports indicate that Mozambique will first visit Kenya in Nairobi this weekend before meeting Bafana Bafana next Tuesday.

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With Pelembe set to celebrate his 33rd birthday on Sunday, the ex-Mamelodi Sundowns tricky winger will want to inspire his teammates to celebrate in style with a win.

Meanwhile, Xavier is reportedly trying to rebuild the team following their failed attempt to reach the 2017 African Nations Cup and narrowly lost in the early stages of the 2018 World Cup preliminaries.

The full squad:

Goalkeepers: Guirrugo (Maxaquene)‚ Tchando (Costa do Sol)‚ Victor (Ferroviario Nacala)

Defenders: Amorim (Ferroviario Beira)‚ Bheu (Liga Desportiva)‚ Edmilson‚ Jeitoso (both Ferroviario Maputo)‚ Ronny Marcos (SV Ried‚ Austria)‚ Salomão (Ferroviario Nampula)‚ Zainadine (Tianjin Teda‚ China)

Midfielders: Clésio (Panetolikos‚ Greece)‚ Gildo (Ferroviario Beira)‚ Gito (Ferroviario Maputo)‚ Geraldo (Nacional‚ Portugal)‚ Junisse (Primeiro Agosto‚ Angola)‚ Kambala (UD Songo)‚ Lóló (Estrela Vermelha)‚ Luís (UD Songo)‚ Raúl (Ferroviario Nampula)‚ Telinho (Liga Desportiva)

Forwards: Avelino (Costa do Sol)‚ Dayo (Ferroviario Beira)‚ Dominguez (Bidvest Wits‚ South Africa)‚ Elias (Liga Desportiva)‚ Faisail (KF Teuta‚ Albania)‚ Néné (Textáfrica Chimoio)‚ Reginaldo (Luftetari‚ Albania)‚ Sonito (Liga Desportiva).