Lesotho’s AFCON 2019 hopes suffer major blow with Uganda defeat

Likuena now need a miracle to qualify for the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon...

Lesotho…(0) 0
Uganda…(2) 2

Lesotho suffered a potentially terminal 2-0 defeat to Uganda in 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Tuesday evening at Setsoto Stadium.

The result leaves Likuena bottom of Group L with two points and just two games to play. Lesotho’s next match is a now a must-win, at home against Tanzania on November 16. Moses Maliehe’s charges then finish their campaign away to Cape Verde next March.

Uganda, on the other hand, is smiling after claiming two victories over Lesotho in four days. On Saturday, the Cranes outclassed Likuena 3-0 at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.

They were once again too good for Likuena at Setsoto as they pretty much cruised to a 2-0 win.

The victory puts Uganda in control of Group L. They are top with 10 points from four games and need just one more point to qualify for next June’s finals in Cameroon.

Lesotho coach Moses Maliehe made two changes to his starting line-up from the team that lost to Uganda on Saturday in an effort to get a positive response from Likuena.

In came goalkeeper Likano Mphuthi, back from injury, to replace Mohau Kuenane while first choice leftback Bokang Sello returned from suspension.

However, needing a draw at worst to keep up in the group, Likuena got off to the worst possible start when Uganda striker Farouk Miya scored after just six minutes.

The goal came from a turnover in the middle of the field – which was to be a recurring problem for Lesotho in the first half – when Tshwarelo Bereng lost the ball.

The ball eventually found its way to Miya who unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box which beat goalkeeper Likano Mphuthi hands down. Mphuthi perhaps could have done better, but the goal was eerily similar to Emmanuel Okwi’s opener on Saturday as a Uganda attacker was given time to look up and take aim at goal with little pressure on the ball.

Such was Uganda’s superiority in the opening half it took until the 25th minute for Lesotho to get its first shot on target when Bokang Sello’s freekick was well palmed away by Uganda captain Dennis Onyango.

Likuena were not coping physically with the visitors’ pace and strength at all.

Both those factors were involved in Uganda’s second goal as Okwi beat Mara Moremoholo for pace down the Cranes’ left flank only to be fouled by the trailing Likuena captain.

From the resultant freekick Miya’s power was once again too much for Mphuthi to deal with in Lesotho’s goals. From a tight angle, Miya somehow managed to beat Mphuthi at his near post with the keeper’s touch onto the underside of the crossbar not enough to prevent a morale-sapping second goal for the Cranes.

Likuena were much improved in the second half with Nkoto Masoabi’s entrance at halftime for Motebang Sera giving Lesotho a much better focal point in attack. Masoabi was involved in Lesotho’s most prosing moment when he was brought down in the box by Murushid Juuko in the 60th minute only for Likuena’s penalty appeals to be turned away.

The 66th minute entrances of Jane Tšotleho and Setho Moshoeshoe (for Hlompho Kalake and Tšepo Toloane) further improved Likuena’s play and there were periods of confident possession and even skill from the hosts.

However, Lesotho couldn’t muster enough pressure to bother Onyango in Uganda’s goals and, in the end, comfortably saw out the win – their first in Lesotho (after a 0-0 draw in 2007).

It is now back to the drawing board for Likuena after a disappointing four days. As things stand, Lesotho’s best chance of qualifying for the AFCON appears to have slipped through its fingers.

Group L standings:

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Uganda	4	3	1	0	6	0	6	10
2	Tanzania	4	1	2	1	3	4	-1	5
3	Cape Verde	4	1	1	2	4	4	0	4
4	Lesotho	4	0	2	2	2	7	-5	2

Lesotho’s AFCON 2019 qualifiers:
11 June 2017 09 September 2018 13 October 2018 16 October 2018 16 November 2018 22 March 2019	Tanzania 1-1 Lesotho Lesotho 1-1 Cape Verde Uganda 3-0 Lesotho Lesotho 0-2 Uganda Lesotho v Tanzania Cape Verde v Lesotho

Likuena starting XI v Uganda:

Likano Mphuthi - Mafa Moremoholo ©, Bokang Sello, Basia Makepe, Nkau Lerotholi - Tšepo Toloane (Moshoeshoe 66’), Hlompho Kalake (Jane 66’), Tshwarelo Bereng, Tumelo Khutlang, Jane Thaba-Ntšo - Motebang Sera (Masoabi 46’)

Substitutes:

Sam Khetsekile, Mohau Kuenane, Kopano Tseka, Jane Tšotleho, Mabuti Potloane, Setho Moshoeshoe, Thabo Seakhoa, Nkoto Masoabi