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.
Religion in Mozambique sacred texts; however, some Christian and Muslim adherents continue to incorporate traditional practices and rituals, and religious authorities have generally been permissive of such practices. Foreign missionary groups operate freely in the country. Some groups offer religious teaching centers to their local communities, while others provide scholarships for students to study in their respective countries. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. The ruling party of Mozambique since independence, known as Frelimo, became predominantly Marxist during the liberation war. After independence, it declared state atheism and it nationalized all schools and