Likatola draw Eswatini, Mauritius in WC qualifiers

Kananelo Mokhele

Lesotho has been drawn in Pool D alongside Eswatini and Mauritius for the opening round of the 2031 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign, set to kick off in July 2026.

The draw signals the start of what is expected to be a demanding and lengthy qualification journey for the national rugby side, stretching from 2026 to 2028. The multi-stage process will feature group matches, cross-pool play-offs and knockout rounds before the final representative secures a place at the global showpiece.

In the first round, teams have been divided into four pools. Pool A features Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana, while Pool B comprises Botswana, Zambia and Madagascar. Pool C includes Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Egypt. Lesotho, placed in Pool D, will battle Eswatini and Mauritius for progression to the next stage.

A strong start in the group phase will be crucial for Lesotho’s hopes of advancing. Teams progressing from the pools will move on to the second round in November 2026, where cross-pool play-offs will determine who advances further.

In these fixtures, the fourth-placed team in Pool A will face the winner of Pool C, while the fourth-placed side in Pool B will take on the winner of Pool D.

The competition will intensify in July 2027 with an eight-team knockout phase, featuring quarterfinal-style matches leading into semi-finals, a third-place play-off and a final to determine the stage winner.

In July 2028, the qualification campaign enters a decisive phase with the introduction of some of Africa’s top-ranked rugby nations, including Senegal, Morocco, Uganda and Tunisia. These sides will compete against teams advancing from earlier rounds for places in the semi-finals and ultimately the final that will determine the leading challenger from Division 2.

Further decisive fixtures are scheduled for November 2028, where the Division 2 runner-up will face the third-ranked team from the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, while the Division 2 champion will meet the fourth-ranked side from the same competition.

The final stage will take the form of a round-robin tournament featuring heavyweights such as Zimbabwe and Namibia, along with two additional qualifiers. The winner will secure direct qualification for the 2031 Rugby World Cup, while the runner-up will proceed to an intercontinental play-off against teams from other regions.

Lesotho Rugby Federation’s Secretary General, Litsitso Motseremeli, said preparations for the qualifiers are already underway. He revealed that plans are in place to organise national team training camps and international friendly matches to ensure the squad is competitive.

Motseremeli highlighted that clashes against Eswatini are expected to be highly physical due to the long-standing regional rivalry, while Mauritius could prove to be the toughest opponent in the group, recalling Lesotho’s narrow defeat in a previous meeting.

“This time we are ready to avenge ourselves,” he said.

He added that while Lesotho has a realistic chance of progressing, success will depend heavily on the level of support provided for preparations and training camps.

“Countries will soon be informed about where the matches will be played, and the names of the players will be announced once the coach has selected the squad,” Motseremeli said.

Newsday

Your Trusted Source for News and Insights in Lesotho!
At Newsday Media, we are passionate about delivering accurate, timely, and engaging news and multimedia content to our diverse audience. Founded with the vision of revolutionizing the media landscape in Lesotho, we have grown into a leading hybrid media company that blends traditional journalism with innovative digital platforms.