Plays against Salah & Co.
The Africa Cup of Nations starts on Saturday in Ivory Coast. Stars like Victor Osimhen (25; Nigeria) and Mohamed Salah (31; Egypt) are taking part, but amateur players are also taking part in the continental competition. For example, Stanley Ratifo from the German league team 1. CfR Pforzheim. He is part of the Mozambique squad and has been part of the national team for several years.
“It has been my dream since I was little to take part in an Africa Cup of Nations with Mozambique,” says Ratifo at Transfermarkt. He comes from Halle an der Saale, his mother is German and his father is Mozambican. His life takes place in Germany – including his football career so far. Trained at 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig, the striker moved to amateur club BSV Halle-Ammendorf at the age of 16. After further stops at FC Pommern Greifswald, Hallescher FC II and VfB Auerbach, he ended up in the second representation of 1. FC Köln in January 2021 at the age of 22. At the Domstadt team he was only used in the reserves, but at one point he was about to make his professional debut. However, it was never enough for the squad. Nevertheless, he made it into the national team via Cologne.
Ratifo explains that his management has been in communication with the association. When the move to Cologne took place, “the invitation to a friendly match followed quite quickly.” “Something big” for his family and him, as he emphasizes. In March 2017, just two months after his arrival in Cologne, Ratifo made his national team debut. He was used for the first time in a 2-0 win against Angola. “The difference is enormous,” says Ratifo, comparing football in the national team with that in the club: “I work a lot of extra shifts to be prepared for every international trip. When I get into the national team, it usually takes me a day or two to get used to the pace.” But he’s hard-working, says the 29-year-old with a laugh, that’s why he’s coping.
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“I train at a high level with players who are in top European leagues and learn a lot from them. This is very special,” emphasizes Ratifo. Mozambique’s squad includes Reinildo Mandava (29), who is under contract with Atlético Madrid and is the country’s most valuable professional with a market value of 16 million euros.
After moving from Cologne to Pforzheim, Ratifo doubted “from time to time” whether his career in the national team could be over: “I had conversations with the then national coach Abel Xavier, he would have liked to see me in Portugal at a more professional level. But I wasn’t ready to leave Germany.” He was also afraid of not being nominated if he wasn’t used in crucial phases in Pforzheim.
Ratifo on duels with Salah & Co.: Not everyone has the chance
Nevertheless, his biggest sporting challenge now lies ahead. Mozambique will face Egypt in Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations, then Ghana and Cape Verde. Ratifo says about the duels with stars like Salah or Mohammed Kudus (23; West Ham): “Not everyone has the chance to play against such footballers. I want to enjoy it to the fullest and see how far I am.” In the past he has played against Sadio Mané (31) or Riyad Mahrez (32).
Mozambique is taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations for the fifth time – but has never managed to advance to the knockout rounds. If you go by the squad value (25.1 million), the “Mambas” are somewhat of an outsider this year too. Only six of the 24 participating teams have a lower squad value. But Ratifo doesn’t want to write off Mozambique at all: “I think we can be good for one or two surprises.” The anticipation for the tournament is “unbelievable” and everyone in the country is excited. “We will also feel this energy on site,” Ratifo is certain.
It makes him “very proud to be a national player”. On the international trips he was “able to see a lot of the wonderful continent of Africa”. But more importantly: “It is an indescribable feeling that my family is proud too.”
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