Seabata Mahao
The senior national football team, Likuena, saw their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 hopes further fade away after a 2-0 loss to Gabon this week.
The match was played at Moses Mabhida Stadium, South Africa as Lesotho continues to be without internationally approved playing facilities.
The defeat, a third one in the ongoing qualifiers, has all but sealed Likuena’s fate of failing to qualify for yet another AFCON tournament, following a string of flattering but ultimately poor performances.
Likuena’s journey began with a 3-1 loss to the Central African Republic (CAR), followed by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco.
They faced Gabon in their first leg in Franceville, where they managed a 0-0 draw. However, in the return leg, which they needed to win to stay in contention, Likuena fell short, losing 2-0.
Likuena are currently rooted at the bottom of their group with a solitary point after playing four games. They are yet to travel to Morocco and host CAR in their remaining matches with little chance of getting a positive result from both games.
Reacting to the loss, Likuena’s head coach, Leslie Notši, acknowledged their challenges, citing Gabon’s strength as a key factor in the loss.
“Gabon is a strong team with most of their players competing in top football clubs around the world. CAR, Gabon, and Lesotho are all competing in a tough group that includes Morocco, so every match requires full strength,” Notši said.
He also noted that playing at home gave Gabon a significant advantage, suggesting that if Likuena had been their own home matches in Lesotho, they might have done better.
“Gabon had the benefit of home advantage, which boosted their confidence,” he explained.
On the broader challenges faced by the national team, Notši mentioned that the country’s limited resources and fewer international players make competing at this level difficult.
“I’m proud of Likuena for their efforts, but Gabon is a team feared by other nations,” Notši added.
Thierry Mouyouma, Gabon’s head coach emphasised that his team had learned from their previous matches and was determined to secure a win.
“Our goal was to score points and advance to the next stage. In sports, actions speak louder than words,” said Mouyouma.
Despite hopes that Lesotho might leverage their familiarity with the South African region, they were unable to capitalise on this advantage.
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