Lesotho’s 2000 Cosafa Cup campaign

Every dog has its day they say and Lesotho’s day came in the 2000 Cosafa Cup. It was a brief day it must be said, but it was very sweet while it lasted. It was a period that in hindsight defined what to many was Lesotho’s golden generation and was an episode that brought Likuena new followers – followers that would cram into the Setsoto Stadium to witness the 2000 Cosafa Cup final against Zimbabwe on a sunny spring afternoon in Maseru.

It was a major achievement…

Apart from a momentous 2-0 win over Cameroon in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 1994 Maseru, international football had been rather unpleasant for Lesotho.

Until the beginning of 2000, of the 58 international matches Lesotho had played since its affiliation with Fifa, 36 were lost and some with the most humbling of score-lines – 5-1 to Mauritius in 1973, 6-1 to Mozambique in 1980, 7-0 to Zaire (DRC) in 1993 and a shambolic 5-0 defeat to Zimbabwe in the match just before that fated 2-0 triumph over Cameroon.

In all only ten matches were won as Lesotho struggled to make its mark on international football. But that was until that memorable 2000 Cosafa Cup run after which Likuena subsequently came within a game of qualifying for the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations Cup.

The 2000 Cosafa Cup adventure remains Lesotho football’s finest hour.

Here’s a breakdown of Likuena’s run to the final...

Preliminary round                                           

05/03/2000 Harare

Zimbabwe 2-1 Lesotho (halftime 0-1)

Scorers: Masupha Majara 9’ (0-1), Joel Lupahla 69’ (1-1), Mpitsa Marai 89’ own goal (2-1)

Zimbabwe: Muzondiwa Mugadza, Thulani Ncube, Desmond Maringwa, Melusi Ndebele (Master Masiku 16’), Robson Muchichwa (Blessing Makunike 40’), Joel Lupahla, Ronald Sibanda, Petros Sibanda, Harlington Shereni, Luke Jukelile, Walter Chuma (Nqobizitha Ncube 64’)

Lesotho: Tšeliso Thite, Eric Makara, Lebaka Mofolo, Mpitsa Marai, Tšepo Hlojeng, Kutloisiso Nthonyana, Malefetsane Pheko, Lehlohonolo Seema, Libe Letsie (Molefe Makhele 47’), Lebajoa Mphongoa (Lebohang Maama 64’), Masupha Majara (Motlatsi Shale 87’)

Referee: Kuedza Nchengwa (Botswana)

Booked: Thulani Ncube 30’, Ronald Sibanda 35’, Tšeliso Thite 43’

Lesotho loses 2-1 but progresses to the quarterfinals as a best loser...

Quarterfinals

11/06/2000 Maseru, Setsoto Stadium

Lesotho 0-0 Zambia (halftime 0-0) Lesotho wins 3-1on penalties

Attendance: 6 000

Lesotho: Tšeliso Thite, Mpitsa Marai, Tšepo Hlojeng, Eric Makara, Lehlohonolo Seema, Motlatsi Maseela, Malefetsane Pheko, Kutloisiso Nthonyana (Molefe Makhele 46’), Motheo Mohapi, Teele Ntsonyana (Masupha Majara 73’), Lebajoa Mphongoa (Motlatsi Shale 34’)

Zambia: Collins Mbulo, Jones Mwewa, Elijah Tana, Kingsley Musabula, Laughter Chilembi, Andrew Sinkala, Mannase Mwanza, Gift Kampamba (Sandros Kumwenda 80'), Emmanuel Zulu (Chaswe Nsofwa 67'), Denis Lota, Harry Milanzi

Referee: Sunday Mlangeni (Swaziland)

Booked: Teele Ntsonyana 38’, Gift Kampamba 38’, Motlatsi Maseela 62’, Andrew Sinkala 63’

Penalty Shootout:

Malefetsane Pheko (missed), Jones Mwewa (missed), Molefe Makhele (scored), Denis Lota (missed) Eric Makara (scored), Sandros Kumwenda (scored), Tšeliso Thite (scored), Harry Milanzi (saved)

Semi-final

23/07/2000 Maseru, Setsoto Stadium

Lesotho 2-1 Angola (halftime 0-1)

Attendance: 4 000

Scorers: Akwa 30’ (0-1), Motlatsi Maseela 84’ (1-1), Teele Ntsonyana 89’ (2-1)

Lesotho: Tšeliso Thite, Mpitsa Marai, Thabang Mahlakajoe, Eric Makara (Seth Lephoto 89’), Motlatsi Maseela, Tšepo Hlojeng, Lehlohonolo Seema, Malefetsane Pheko (Shalane Lehohla 63’), Motheo Mohapi (Motlatsi Shale 80’), Teele Ntsonyana, Lebajoa Mphongoa

Angola: Ndulo, Renato (Djana 70’), Antonio Neto, Helder Vicente, Yamba Asha, Carlos Pedro, Joni, Paulao (Taty 79’), Edson Cata, Silas, Fabrice Akwa

Referee: Alousious Sesikwe (Botswana)

Booked: Malefetsane Pheko 36' Helder Vicente 44', Edson Cata 53', Silas 75', Antonio Neto 89'

Malefetsane Pheko, Fabrice Akwa, Lehlohonolo Seema

Final

First leg

13/08/2000 Maseru, Setsoto Stadium

Lesotho 0-3 Zimbabwe (halftime 0-2)

Attendance: 25 000

Scorers: Thabang Mahlakajoe 9' own goal (0-1), William Mugeyi 41' (0-2), Luke Petros 52' (0-3)

Lesotho: Tšeliso Thite, Eric Makara, Mpitsa Marai, Tšepo Hlojeng, Motlatsi Maseela, Shalane Lehohla, Thabang Mahlakajoe, Motheo Mohapi (Motlatsi Shale 46'), Lehlohonolo Seema (Molefe Makhele 33'), Masupha Majara, Teele Ntsonyana (Paballo Mpakanyane 66')

Zimbabwe: George Mandizvidza, Thulani Ncube, Kaitano Tembo, Calistus Pasuwa, Innocent Chikoya, Desmond Maringwa, Nqobizitha Ncube (Wilfred Mugeyi 65'), William Mugeyi, Master Masiku, Luke Jukelile (Robson Chisango 64'), Benjamin Mwaruwaru

Referee: Rajanand Nunkoo (Mauritius)

Booked: None

Second Leg

27/08/2000 Bulawayo

Zimbabwe 3-0 Lesotho (halftime 1-0)

Attendance: 35 000

Scorers: Luke Petros 15' penalty (1-0), Robson Chisango 75' (2-0), Benjamin Mwaruwaru 78' (3-0)

Zimbabwe: George Mandizvidza, Thulani Ncube, Kaitano Tembo, Mlungisi Ngubane (Bekithemba Ndlovu 68'), Dezidelio Kapenya, Calistus Pasuwa, Master Masiku, William Mugeyi, Nqobizitha Ncube (Robson Chisango 58'), Luke Jukelile, (Alois Bunjira 80'), Benjamin Mwaruwaru

Lesotho: Tšeliso Thite, Eric Makara, Motlatsi Maseela, Tšepo Hlojeng, Mpitsa Marai, Thabang Mahlakajoe, Shalane Lehohla, Molefe Makhele, Malefetsane Pheko (Moses Ramafole 57’), Masupha Majara (Refiloe Potse 74’), Kabelo Mosothoane (Motheo Mohapi 72’)

Referee: Robin Williams (South Africa)

Booked: Tšepo Hlojeng 88’

Aggregate score: Zimbabwe 6-0 Lesotho