Lehlohonolo Motšoari
In a draw that promises to test their mettle, Lesotho’s national football team, Likuena, will face formidable opponents, Morocco, Gabon, and the Central African Republic (CAR) in Group D for the upcoming Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations 2025 (AFCON) qualifiers.
With Morocco automatically qualifying as the host nation, Lesotho will vie for one of the top two spots to secure their place in the prestigious tournament. Lesotho’s recent form has shown signs of improvement, yet consistency remains an issue. In their last ten matches, Likuena secured two wins, three draws, and suffered five defeats.
Despite these statistics, the Crocodiles have shown their strengths in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers, suffering one loss against Rwanda while drawing three games, including an away draw against African giants Nigeria.
Leslie Notši traveled to COSAFA with familiar faces, hoping to bolster the boys for bigger tournaments, but Likuena were stunned and returned home with just a draw to their name, losing two games, 1-2 and 1-3 against Namibia and Angola respectively, and drawing 1-1 with Seychelles.
Facing Morocco, despite their automatic qualification, will be a stern test. The Atlas Lions are currently one of the strongest teams on the continent, boasting a squad filled with top-tier international talent.
Their recent performances have been nothing short of spectacular, including a strong showing at the 2022 World Cup, where they reached the semifinals. Even without the pressure of needing to qualify, the African number-one-ranked team will look to dominate and maintain their winning momentum.
Gabon presents another significant challenge for Lesotho. The Panthers, led by star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, have never tasted defeat against Likuena, with the 83rd-ranked nation in the world winning all three encounters.
The Central African Republic may not have the same footballing pedigree as Morocco and Gabon, but they are by no means an easy opponent. Notši’s boys will have to up their game to taste their maiden AFCON experience, especially since they will have to play all their matches away from home due to slow progress in erecting the national footballing ground.
The coach may have to look beyond his current players, on whom he has fully depended for the past years, and include the likes of Neo Mokhachane, who plays his trade in Botswana, and the league’s top goal scorer Lemohang Lintša.
The qualifiers consist of 12 groups of four teams each, and the top two teams from each group will participate in AFCON 2025 in Morocco.