Mozambique national football team home ground is Estádio do Zimpeto in the capital city Maputo, and can hold 45,000 spectators. The team's current head coach is the former Portugal international Abel Xavier, who has been in charge since February 2016. On the day of independence in 1975, Mozambique played its first ever match; a friendly against Zambia, winning 2–1. Two years later, Cuba became Mozambique's first non-African opponent when the two countries met in Mozambique, with Cuba winning 2-0. Mozambique entered World Cup qualifying for the first time in the 1982 qualifying competition. Zaire defeated Mozambique 7-3 over two legs in the first round.
Portuguese Mozambique population's rapid exodus left the Mozambican economy in disarray. In addition, after the independence day on 25 June 1975, the eruption of the Mozambican Civil War (1977–92) destroyed the remaining wealth and left the former Portuguese Overseas Province in a state of absolute disrepair. Herrick, Allison and others (1969). "Area Handbook for Mozambique", US Government Printing Office. Portuguese Mozambique Portuguese Mozambique () or Portuguese East Africa ("África Oriental Portuguesa") are the common terms by which Mozambique is designated when referring to the historic period when it was a Portuguese overseas territory. Portuguese Mozambique constituted a string of Portuguese colonies and