Following the sacking of Joao Chissano a few days ago, Helder Muianga has been confirmed as the new Mozambique coach, according to the country’s national football federation.

Known as ‘Mano Mano’, the former national team defender has been assisting Chissano in recent international matches, including at the weekend, when the Mambas of Mozambique lost 1-0 at home against Rwanda.

The encounter was a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, and the disappointment cost Chissano his position at the helm of the national team.

Mozambique ended the Cosafa Cup as runners up after losing to Namibia in the final last month, and despite the positive finish in Southern Africa’s top regional national team competition, the loss to Rwanda ended Chissano’s time in charge of the Mambas, with Muianga handed the responsibility this week.

Muianga’s focus will be on his first assignment with the national side, which will see him prepare a squad of locally-based footballers to participate in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against the Seychelles away in Beira this coming weekend.

So the new coach has little time to take on his urgent task, but will use his experience in assisting Chissano recently to make the decisions required of him.

As a player Muianga last represented the national team 11 years ago, while at club level he was a player for Mozambican, South African and Hungarian teams. In South Africa he played for Manning Rangers, Black Leopards and Jomo Cosmos, while earlier in his career the defender represented Costa do Sol in Maputo.