Maputo, July 24, 2025 (Lusa) - The Mozambican Football League (LMF) announced on Thursday that it has secured financial guarantees to cover the clubs’ air travel costs until the end of the 2025 Moçambola season, which was suspended two weeks ago, following support from partners and the government.
“We are making this announcement because we have guarantees that the Football League will be able to pay the cost of tickets to LAM [Mozambique Airlines],” said LMF president Alberto Simango at a press conference in Maputo, adding that these payments could even “be made by companies or partners directly,” leaving the 14 clubs free from this obligation.
He said the “critical situation” caused by the current cost of air tickets on LAM for clubs in the main football league had been overcome after “lengthy negotiations with various partners,” including the government, involving the ministries of transport and sport, as well as private sponsors.
Debts of 100 million meticais (approximately €1.3 million) owed by clubs competing in the LAM championship led the company to suspend ticket sales. More than two weeks ago, the LMF cancelled the sixth round of matches, which will resume gradually from Saturday.
Simango said that the championship will resume as usual and will run until its conclusion, with adjustments to the schedule to compensate for the stoppage: “We will have Moçambola from now until the end.”
The LMF postponed the sixth round of Moçambola to 10 July, initially setting no new dates and citing “constraints” on the teams’ air travel, while one match, which required no air transport, proceeded as scheduled.
The president of the Mozambican Football Federation (FMF), Feizal Sidat, today highlighted the need for improved planning after the 2025 Moçambola began in May, following an initial schedule for March and logistical challenges in securing air transport for the teams.
“The suspension of Moçambola surprised us (...). We find it concerning and believe it tarnishes the competition itself,” criticised Sidat, demanding solutions from the LMF: “We must treat football games with seriousness. The competition must start and finish.”
Journalists presented these criticisms to the LMF president, who preferred not to comment.
The organisers postponed the start of the 2025 edition of the Mozambican championship from 26 March to 17 May to resolve logistical and economic issues.
According to information from the LMF at the time, the postponement occurred because of logistical issues related to air transport challenges in the country, as well as economic issues stemming from the “context” Mozambique is experiencing after a turbulent electoral process and strong social unrest in the streets over the last five months.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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