Former City Islander Clésio Baúque scores in Africa Cup of Nations

From City Island to scoring against Mo Salah and Egypt a decade later.

Former Harrisburg City Islander Clésio Baúque made the most of his Africa Cup of Nations debut on Sunday, scoring for Mozambique in the 58th minute to put them up 2-1 on Egypt. The score would not hold – Salah equalized deep into second half stoppage time from the penalty spot – but it was still a crucial point for The Mambas, competing in the competition for the first time since 2010.

Baúque played one season in Harrisburg on loan from Benfica. He started the year out as a trialist with the Philadelphia Union in preseason and then spent the season with the Union’s then USL affiliate. He made 20 appearances and scored 5 goals for the City Islanders as a 19-year-old.

He went on to make just one appearance for Benfica before playing with teams in Greece, Turkey and Azerbaijan. After returning to Portugal to play for Maritomo he spent part of 2023 in Finland with Honka and just recently re-signed with Gabala SC in Azerbaijan, where he spent the 2019-2020 season.

Clésio has been a fixture with Mozambique since he made his debut at age 17 in 2011. He now has six goals in 44 international appearances.

Former Harrisburg City Islander Clesio Bauque scoring in Africa Cup of Nations. #LongLivetheCityIslanders https://t.co/eGJZ2CvPhY

— Philadelphia Soccer Now (@phlsoccernow) January 15, 2024