Jelusic says Likuena ready for battle

 MASERU – Lesotho national team coach Veselin Jelusic says Likuena will try their best to compete with Zambia in next week’s back-to-back 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against ‘Chipolopolo’.

Jelusic was speaking to reporters on Thursday after a goalless draw against Eswatini in a friendly match played at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.

Both countries used the game as part of their preparations for the qualifiers with Eswatini set to take on Cape Verde.

To stand any chance of going to next year’s finals in Ivory Coast, Lesotho has to win at least one of the games against Zambia.

However, it will not be easy. Not only are Zambia a powerhouse in Southern Africa, they have many European based players which include Patson Daka who plays for Leicester City in the English Premiership.

“We are competing to win the games, as you know, Zambia’s squad (is strong) even without many European based players. They are winners of the last COSAFA Cup, and even without seven or eight excellent European players they are still favourites. We must be realistic but, of course, we are going to compete and try our best,” Jelusic said.

Likuena did almost everything right on Thursday, controlling the ball and creating chances, but they could not finish. Jelusic noted this and said his side will continue to work on finishing before jetting off to Zambia on Monday.

“We are satisfied with our control of the ball, possession of the ball in some parts of the game but we are not overly satisfied about the final part of the game. We had three chances but we didn’t score but we will continue to prepare the team to compete against Zambia as well as possible,” he said.

Jelusic said he is preparing all the players to be available for Zambia and said first-choice goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane will be monitored closely. Moerane came off at halftime with an apparent injury he sustained when an opposing Eswatini player lunged into him.

Jelusic did not say how serious Moerane’s injury is and the keeper was likely withdrawn as a precaution.

South Africa based striker Motebang Sera was introduced for the final ten minutes and Jelusic said Likuena’s technical team are being very careful with Sera because he has not played or trained for several weeks because of an injury.

“You know that Sera was injured and he didn’t play or practice with his team (Royal AM). He started with us a few days ago (and) we didn’t want to force him to repeat the injury that he had but hopefully he will help us in some parts of the game against Zambia,” Jelusic said.

Tlalane Phahla