#Afcon2015: Lesotho progresses past Kenya

2015 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier

Second Round, second leg

Sunday, 03 August, 2014

Nairobi

Kenya 0-0 Lesotho

Lesotho wins 1-0 on aggregate

A good win for Lesotho, but there is still work to do

Lesotho got the first part of the job done, a 1-0 win over Kenya at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday in the first leg of its 2014 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier. Now Likuena have to go and finish the job in Kenya. The winner goes through to the final stage of qualifying – a group containing Burkina Faso, Gabon and Angola – with the ultimate goal being a spot at the 2015 Afcon in Morocco.

That’s the carrot dangling for Lesotho.

There are many positives for Likuena.

Setsoto has really turned into a fortress for Lesotho and Likuena are enjoying their best period in competitive matches since a run between 1992 and 1994 when Lesotho went five matches unbeaten at home. Lesotho has only lost once in its past seven matches at home, conceding just three goals. Likuena’s only loss was to Ghana.

Lesotho's recent home form in competitive matches

22/01/12 Lesotho 0-0 São Tomé e Príncipe (Afcon qualifier) 10/06/12 Lesotho 0-0 Sudan (World Cup qualifier) 24/03/13 Lesotho 1-1 Zambia (World Cup qualifier) 16/06/13 Lesotho 0-2 Ghana (World Cup qualifier) 01/06/14 Lesotho 2-0 Liberia (World Cup qualifier) 20/07/14 Lesotho 1-0 Kenya (Afcon qualifier)

This is very encouraging.

A home fortress is always a prerequisite but most especially in African football.

Tšotleho Jane (10) v Kenya
Photo credit: Soccer Laduma

The team’s defensive solidity is another positive and gives hope for the second leg in two weeks' time. Lesotho has only conceded twice in its past four competitive outings.

Sunday’s display against Kenya wasn’t the best. Lesotho’s interim coach Seepheephe Matete was intent on keeping things tight and started with Thapelo Tale as the lone striker. 

Kenya was the better side for large parts of the first half, mostly via their superior physicality, while Lesotho was flat.  Likuena were also lucky; goalkeeper Mohau Kuenane spilled an early free-kick suspiciously close to the goal-line as Lesotho also battled early jitters.

Things improved somewhat when Mabuti Potloane replaced Thabo Masualle. Tšoanelo Koetle moved to right-back in a tactical reshuffle and he would end up having an influential game.

           

After the break Likuena improved slightly more and were rewarded 20 minutes into the second half when Tšepo Seturumane found the net with a header goal from Koetle’s cross . Lesotho had three further half-chances to add a bigger cushion for the second leg.

But, 1-0 it will be. Not a bad result at all. The pressure is now all on Kenya. One Likuena goal in the return on August 3 would mean Kenya need three to progress.

There is plenty of work still to be done, but Lesotho should wake this morning confident.

Lesotho XI v Kenya

1. Mohau Kuenane

2. Thabo Masualle

3. Jerry Kamela

4. Nkau Lerotholi

5. Moitheri Ntobo (c)

6. Tšoanelo Koetle

7. Bushy Moletsane

8. Motlalepula Mofolo

9. Thapelo Tale

10. Tšotleho Jane

11. Tšepo Seturumane

Substitutes

Phafa Tšosane

Lekhanya Lekhanya

Mabuti Potloane

Sepiriti Malefane

Tšepo Lekhoana

Basia Makepe

Kananelo Makhooane

Lesotho 1-0 Kenya

2015 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier

First round qualifier, first leg

Setsoto Stadium

Maseru, Lesotho

Lesotho 1-0 Kenya 

Germany: A 10 Year Project

Leader of the pack...
Jogi Loew

“We’ve been together now for 55 days. We started this project 10 years ago, so this is the result of many years’ work, beginning with Jurgen Klinsmann. We’ve continued that work and our strength has been our constant progress. We’d not made this ultimate step before, but champions do what they will do. We believed we’d win it, and we worked a lot to achieve it. If anyone deserves it, then this team with (Bastian) Schweinsteiger, (Philipp) Lahm, (Lukas) Podolski, (Per) Mertesacker ... they deserve it. This team deserves it. We showed the best performances for seven matches of all the teams in this tournament, but we’re looking back over 10 years of preparation and hard work. This team has developed a spirit which is unbelievable.”  – Germany coach Joachim Löw

Thesis Points

One of a kind...
Ronaldo

My Thesis Points, inspired in part by the 2014 World Cup:

- Brazil has regressed in a way almost similar to Africa in that they are producing players for the European game, not players of their tradition, feeling and culture

- What separates Brazil from Africa is an obvious pride that is indistinguishable, they feel they are best in football; they take huge pride in the Brazil shirt

-  A good tactic can, to a degree, be independent of players; but players, no matter how good, can never be independent of structure, cohesion and organisation

- The independent thinking player, the crack/craque, is vital. He can decide a game at any moment and he elicits above normal attention from opposition

- Speed, precision and discipline are vital with the non-possession phase now as important, if not more important, than the possession phase

Note: it may seem I’m always bashing Europe, I am not. Europe is the Mecca of football, the pinnacle of game. However, it is the responsibility of other nations/regions to preserve their own culture while producing a standard of player able to thrive in Europe’s best leagues. Africa in the past was able to produce Abedi Pele and Jay-Jay Okocha, for example, who shone brightly in Europe’s best clubs and leagues. Brazil had Zico, Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho to name a few. Why can’t they produce the same player anymore?

MolapoKTM