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| Captain Experience Moitheri Ntobo (in green) |
Matlama goalkeeper Makhetha Thakeli has
been called up to the Lesotho squad for Sunday’s African Nations Championship
(CHAN) qualifier against Zimbabwe. The young keeper has been called up as cover
for first choice starter Mohau Kuenane and Sam Ketsekile after a string of good
performances for Tse Putsoa.
Sunday’s CHAN clash has been set for
Balfourfields Stadium in Bulawayo and Likuena left for Zimbabwe on Wednesday
morning. The game comes hot on the heels of Lesotho’s disappointing exit from
the 2018 World Cup qualifiers at the hands of Comoros on Tuesday.
Lesotho was knocked out after a 1-1
second leg draw at Setsoto Stadium meant Comoros advanced on away goals. Sunday’s
CHAN qualifier against Zimbabwe is a chance to find some light after Tuesday’s
dark clouds. A win in the two-legged tie would guarantee Lesotho a place at the
CHAN finals in Rwanda in January.
It would be the first time Lesotho
qualifies for a senior international tournament.
However, reaching the CHAN, which is
only for home based players, will be a difficult challenge. Zimbabwe has a strong
domestic league and the Warriors reached the semi-finals of the last edition
held in 2014 in South Africa.
Likuena’s under-fire caretaker coach
Seephephe Matete will have to do without Matlama’s Nkau Lerotholi and Bantu’s Litšepe
Marabe. The duo left camp on Monday because they were undergoing police training
but apart from drafting in Thakeli, Matete has made no other additions or
subtractions to his squad. The team will once again be led by centre-back Moitheri Ntobo who was coaxed out of international retirement ahead of the World Cup tie against Comoros.
Lesotho versus Zimbabwe is one of three
last round CHAN qualifiers in the Southern Zone. In other ties, South Africa
faces Angola while Zambia meets Mozambique.
Aside from the Northern Zone qualifiers,
which are being played in a league phase format, all first leg matches will be
played this coming weekend (October 16-18). The return matches are set for October
23-25.
In a fortnight the final 16-team field
for the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda will be decided.
CHAN
qualifiers last round
Northern
Zone
Final
round of group stage matches – top two teams qualify for CHAN
19 October – Tunisia v Libya
22 October – Libya v Morocco
25 October – Tunisia v Morocco
West
Zone A
Two
aggregate winners qualify for CHAN
First
leg – 16-18 October
Mali v Mauritania
Guinea v Senegal
Second
leg – 23-25 October
Mauritania v Mali
Senegal v Guinea
West
Zone B
Three
aggregate winners qualify for CHAN
First
leg – 16-18 October
Ghana v Ivory Coast
Nigeria v Burkina Faso
Niger v Togo
Second
leg – 23-25 October
Ivory Coast v Ghana
Burkina Faso v Nigeria
Togo v Niger
Central
Zone
Three
aggregate winners qualify for CHAN
First
leg – 16-18 October
DR Congo v Central African Republic
Cameroon v Congo
Chad v Gabon
Second
leg – 23-25 October
Central African Republic v DR Congo
Congo v Cameroon
Gabon v Chad
Central-East
Zone
Two
aggregate winners qualify for CHAN
First
leg – 16-18 October
Uganda v Sudan
Burundi v Ethiopia
Second
leg – 23-25 October
Sudan v Uganda
Ethiopia v Burundi
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| Balfourfields Stadium The venue for Sunday's CHAN qualifier between Zimbabwe and Lesotho |
Southern
Zone
Three
aggregate winners qualify for CHAN
First
leg – 16-18 October
Zimbabwe v Lesotho
Zambia v Mozambique
South Africa v Angola
Second
leg – 23-25 October
Lesotho v Zimbabwe
Mozambique v Zambia
Angola v South Africa
Likuena
squad
Goalkeepers
Sam Ketsekile (LCS), Mohau Kuenane
(Lioli), Makhetha Thakeli (Matlama)
Defenders
Jeremea Kamela (Lioli), Moitheri Ntobo
(LCS), Thapelo Mokhehle (Bantu), Basia Makepe (Lioli)
Midfielders
Ralekoti Mokhahlane (LCS), Bokang
Mothoana (Likhopo), Tšoanelo Koetle (Lioli), Hlompho Kalake (Bantu), Kefuoe
Mahula (Matlama), Jane ThabaNtšo (Matlama), Bushy Moletsane (Lioli), Lekhanya
Lekhanya (Lioli), Motlalepula Mofolo (Lioli)
Forwards
Tšepo Seturumane (LMPS), Nkoto Masoabi
(Lioli), Thapelo Tale (Likhopo)
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