Edmilson Dove has confirmed as the first Kaizer Chiefs player that will be heading to the AFCON finals next month.
After being named in Mozambique's preliminary squad for tournament two weeks ago, Dove has since been named in the final squad heading to Cote d'Ivoire for the tournament due to run from January 13 to February 11.
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CAF has set a deadline of January 3, 2024, for all 24 countries that have qualified to submit their final squads of 23 players with the option of naming another four players on the list.
Before leaving for Abidjan where they will play in Group B against Egypt, Ghana, and Cape Verde, the Mambas will set base in Johannesburg from December 28 to January 9 and play Lesotho in a friendly match.
Chiquinho Conde, the Mozambique coach, has named 10 players attached to local clubs who include veteran winger and captain Elias Pelembe.
The other 13 play in South Africa, Portugal, Angola, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Armenia, Turkey, and Spain.
For Dove, the tournament will be his first.
The 29-year-old has played seven of the last nine games qualifiers for Mozambique this year.
What will also make the tournament of significance for Dove is that with his contract up at the end of June, he will be out to impress.
Dove has played nine games for Chiefs this season including the last five league games featuring at left-back and central defence.
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Stanley Ratifo – who was on trials at Kaizer Chiefs – has also been included along with Reinildo Mandava of Atletico Madrid and Geny Catamo of Sporting Lisbon.
Polokwane City midfielder Manuel Kambala has missed out after being named in the preliminary squad just like former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Luis Miquissone.
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