Seabata Mahao
Following their heroic 2023 showing where they stormed the final, the national team, Likuena, has been eliminated in the group stages of the 2024 Council of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA) tournament.
Likuena suffered two losses and managed a draw in its three group C matches, with the last match being their heavy 3-1 defeat to Angola on July 3.
Held at Mbombela Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the 2024 edition was supposed to provide Lesotho with platform to stamp its influence in the showpiece, but unfortunately fell woefully short.
The national team had a nightmarish opening game of the tournament with a 1-1 draw against lowly ranked Seychelles, before succumbing to a 2-1loss to Namibia in their second match. Their loss against Angola ensured that Likuena exited the tournament without a win.
In their match against Angola, Likuena had few shots on target but managed to score in the 27th minute thanks to Lehlohonolo Fothoane’s strike from a Katleho Makateng assist. However, their lead was short-lived as Laurindo Aurelio equalized from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute, leaving the teams level at 1-1 at halftime.
Likuena struggled to find their footing in the second half, and their hopes of progressing were dashed in the 65th minute when Victor Pedro Nanque scored Angola’s second goal.
The situation worsened for Likuena in the dying minutes of the match when their captain and goalkeeper, Sekhoane Moerane, was sent off for a foul in the box, resulting in a second penalty for Angola. Valdemiro Pinto Domingos converted the penalty, securing a 3-1 victory for Angola and their advancement to the semi-finals.
This outcome marks a disappointing campaign for Lesotho, especially considering their achievement of reaching the final in last year’s edition.