Mozambique star left-back Reinildo Mandava will miss Sunday’s crucial AFCON Group L qualifier against Rwanda at Huye Sports Stadium through injury.

The Atletico Madrid defender is his country's biggest player but he will not be involved in the epic clash after he sustained an injury before the end of the 2022/23 season and he has undergone a surgery.

He is expected to fully recover on September 15.

Reinildo is the only notable absentee in coach Chiquinho Conde’s Mambas set up from the squad which drew 1-1 with Rwanda last year in South Africa.

German-born David Malembane, who has only one national team cap under his belt when Mozambique played Cameroon in October 2021, also returns to the squad.

The Mambas sit second in Group L, tied on four points with third-placed Benin whereas Amavubi are at the bottom of the table with two points after four games.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Fazito (Ferroviario Nampula), Ivane (Associacao Black Bulls), Victor Guambe (Costa do Sol)

Defenders: Bheu Januario (UD Songo), Chico (Costa do Sol), Danito (UD Songo), David Malembane (Lokomotiv Sofia, Germany), Domingos (Costa do Sol), Edmilson (Kaizer Chiefs), Martinho (Associacao Black Bulls), Mexer (Estoril, Portugal)

Midfielders: Abudo (Costa do Sol), Amadu (Associacao Black Bulls), Clesio Bauque (Zira, Azerbaijan), Dominguez (Royal AM, South Africa), Geny Catamo (Maritimo, Portugal), Gildo (Sporting Covilha, Portugal), Kambala (Magesi, South Africa), Shaquille (Ferroviario Maputo), Telinho (Ferroviario Nampula), Witi (Nacional, Portugal)

Forwards: Melque (Associacao Black Bulls), Stanley Ratifo (Pforzheim, Germany).