Lesotho versus Swaziland COSAFA Cup quarterfinal set for June 3

Likuena will face Swaziland in the last eight of the COSAFA Cup... a win
would book a date against Zambia or Namibia in the semis...

Lesotho will face Swaziland in the quarterfinals of the 2018 COSAFA Cup and the tie will be played on June 3 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

Kick-off will be at 17:00.

Likuena and Swaziland are both amongst the tournament’s six top ranked nations and, as a result, have avoided the group stage.

If Likuena progress past Sihlangu they will face Zambia or Namibia in the semi-finals.

The 2018 COSAFA Cup, which will be staged in South Africa’s Limpopo province from May 27 to June 9, will be the first in history in which all 14 member nations of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) will take part in the regional showpiece.

This year’s event is also the 18th edition since the first tournament in 1997.

Timothy Shongwe, COSAFA Executive Committee – Competitions, expressed delight that all member nations are competing in this year’s tournament.

In recent years COSAFA has invited a guest nation to complete the 14-team competition field. Last year it was east African country Tanzania.

“We are delighted that all of our members will take the opportunity to compete at the COSAFA Cup, which is not only a celebration of excellence in Southern African football, but also gives players, coaches and referees the chance to hone their skills in the international environment,” Shongwe said.

For Lesotho the 2018 COSAFA Cup represents another chance to finally win an international trophy.

Likuena coach Moses Maliehe acknowledged the draw could have been worse – with the side having avoided big guns Zambia, South Africa and defending champions Zimbabwe in the quarterfinals – but he insisted Likuena would not overlook Swaziland as they go in search of their first-ever international title.

Swaziland is ranked 131st in the world by FIFA while Lesotho is 149th.

“It is a good draw because it is fair, but you cannot underestimate Swaziland,” Maliehe said. “They are a very good team and even on the FIFA ranking they are above us.”

Recent Lesotho v Swaziland head-to-head
20 May 2015	Lesotho 0-2 Swaziland	COSAFA Cup	L
09 Mar 2014	Lesotho 0-0 Swaziland	International Friendly	D
07 Mar 2014	Lesotho 0-1 Swaziland	International Friendly	L
11 Jul 2013	Lesotho 2-0 Swaziland	COSAFA Cup	W
12 Nov 2012	Swaziland 1-2 Lesotho	International Friendly	W
14 Oct 2012	Lesotho 0-1 Swaziland	International Friendly	L
12 Oct 2012	Lesotho 2-1 Swaziland	International Friendly	W

COSAFA Cup Draw:

Quarterfinals
June 2 – 15:00    M13 Zambia v Namibia (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium)
June 2 – 17:30    M14 South Africa v Winner Group A (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium)
June 3 – 17:00    M15 Lesotho v Swaziland (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium)
June 3 – 19:30    M16 Zimbabwe v Winner Group B (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium)

Plate Semi-finals
June 5 – 17:00    M17 Loser M13 v Loser M15 (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium)
June 5 – 19:30    M18 Loser M14 v Loser M16 (Old Peter Mokaba Stadium)

Cup Semi-finals
June 6 – 17:00    M19 Winner M13 v Winner M15 (New Peter Mokaba Stadium)
June 6 – 19:30    M20 Winner M14 v Winner M16 (New Peter Mokaba Stadium)

Plate Final
June 8 – 17:00    M21 Winner M17 v Winner M18 (New Peter Mokaba Stadium)

Third-Place Playoff
June 8 – 19:30    M22 Loser M19 v Loser M20 (New Peter Mokaba Stadium)

Cup Final
June 9 – 15:00    M23 Winner M19 v Winner M20 (New Peter Mokaba Stadium)