🇲🇿 Eusebio's complicated legend is pushing Mozambique to produce new icons

The Portuguese legend was born in East Africa and is still the subject of some debate!

One of the best footballers of all-time was born in Mozambique. 

Indeed, Eusebio - the Black Panther, as he was nicknamed - was Mozambican, born in Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) more than 30 years before the African coastal nation gained its independence from Portugal.

For Portugal, Eusebio became a legend. He was the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup. He won the European Cup with Benfica in 1962 and was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 1965.

And yet Mozambique was only ever a footnote in Eusebio’s incredible widely told story. Some fans might not even be aware that he was born outside Portugal.

Eusebio wasn’t the only Mozambique-born player to turn out for the Selecao. Footballing talent was just another thing plundered from the country by its once-colonisers. 

Now, though, Mozambique - independent since 1975 - is determined to create new icons for its national team. Their performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations offered a glimpse of this.