Seabata Mahao
The national football team Likuena will face Togo in a friendly match on June 14 this year, as it steps up preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The friendly match, which will be hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, will be played just a few days before Likuena faces Comoros in their AFCON qualifier match on June 17.
Likuena will then conclude its 2023 AFCON qualifier campaign against Ivory Coast in September this year.
The national team also has its eye on the 2023 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup tournament, which is scheduled to run from July 5-16 this year.
Likuena has already played two practice matches against Eswatini, since starting training camp in May this year in anticipation of the two competitions.
In their first friendly match, Likuena travelled to Eswatini on June 3 this year, where they won 2-1 against Isihlangu. They then lost 1-0 against the same team in their second meeting.
Like Likuena, Eswatini is itself preparing for their AFCON qualifier clashes against Togo and Burkina Faso.
Even though Likuena is already out of contention to qualify for AFCON finals scheduled for Ivory Coast next year, Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) is expecting a strong finish from their two remaining games, as well as a good performance in the upcoming Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup.
For Likuena’s upcoming matches, coach Veselin Julisic has drafted in several youngsters and new faces to his team, who are new to the international setup.
Most of these new faces were tested in the two friendly matches against Eswatini.
The new players include Linare FC players, ‘Mellere Lebetsa, Koenehelo Mothala, Leluma Phosholi of Bantu FC, Mokoteli Mohapi from Lioli FC, and Ngaka Lenka in the squad.
LCS FC duo of Mohlomi Makhetha and Mosoeu Seahlolo aged 22 and 21 respectively, are among youngsters in the squad who tasted international football in the friendly match against Malawi.
Several experienced players such as Basia Makepe, Katleho Makateng, Motlomelo Mkhwanazi, and Tswarelo Bereng are likely to miss Likuena’s upcoming matches through injuries.
