Likuena turns to COSAFA Cup

MASERU – Lesotho’s national team, Likuena, is back training and preparing for next month’s 2022 COSAFA Cup in Durban, South Africa. Likuena have just completed the first two games of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign losing to Comoros and drawing with Ivory Coast and they will now shift their focus to the annual regional showpiece.

Lesotho head coach Veselin Jelusic has called up a provisional 28-man squad for the training camp which started on Tuesday. The squad, which is going through its paces at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena, will be trimmed down closer to the tournament to fit the required travelling logistics although the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) is yet to confirm how big the final squad will be.

The draw for the COSAFA Cup was held on Tuesday in Durban and Lesotho has been paired with Malawi, Eswatini and Mauritius in Group B while Group A contains Angola, Comoros, Seychelles, and Botswana. Only the top team in each pool will advance to the quarter-finals and if Likuena win their group, they will progress to face Senegal in the quarterfinals.

Reacting to the draw, Jelusic said every team in the competition deserves respect and added that the tournament offers a chance to introduce some new blood.

“We have equal high respect for all teams in this competition, we expect an interesting tournament and (the) possible promotion of some new young players,” he said.

Jelusic spoke to LEFA’s media team after Lesotho’s AFCON qualifiers against Comoros and Ivory Coast. He underscored the significance of the COSAFA Cup saying it is an opportunity for the players to show their value and, possibly, catch the eye of professional clubs in South Africa.

“The COSAFA Cup is another opportunity for our players to show their value and promote themselves as we mentioned. It will be a chance for them to come to strong clubs and play professional football,” Jelusic said.

“Of course, one of our ideas is to see these players getting chances to play in the premier league in South Africa. It will help us when we play against strong national teams and let’s hope these things will happen in the future,” the Likuena boss added.

Jelusic has called up a team made up mostly of the players that played in the recent AFCON qualifiers with the exception of Lesia Thetsane who is based in the United States and Masoabi Nkoto who plays in Georgia.
The South African based duo of Tumelo Makha and Motebang Sera, however, will link up with the team for the championships.

Lesotho Defence Force striker Katleho Makateng is also expected to play a big role in Durban. Makateng played a limited role in the qualifiers due to a serious concussion he suffered in a friendly match against Namibia. However, the league’s golden boot winner has since recovered and is expected to be fully fit when the COSAFA Cup roars into life.

Likuena Provisional squad:

Goalkeepers
Tankiso Chaba, Sekhoane Moerane, Monaheng Ramalefane

Defenders
Tlotliso Mapola, Rethabile Senkoto, Shali Lekhotla, Rethabile Mokokoane, Lehlohonolo Lenka, Thabang Malane, Kopano Tseka, Tšiame Ramabele, Basia Makepe, Motlomelo Mkhwanazi, Rethabile Rasethuntša

Midfielders
Lehlohonolo Matsau, Tšepo Toloane, Letlatsa Moshoeshoe, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Neo Mokhachane, Tšepang Sefali, Lisema Lebokollane, Thabo Mafatle, Tumelo Makha

Strikers
Lemohang Lintša, Katleho Makateng, Jane Thabants’o, Rets’elisitsoe Mopeli, Motebang Sera.

Tlalane Phahla