Sao Tome 1-0 Lesotho

2013 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifier

First leg

Sunday, 15 January

Sao Tome………(1) 1

Lesotho…….…..(0) 0

Lesotho went down 1-0 to Sao Tome e Principe in the first leg of the sides’ 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier yesterday.

The preliminary round game had been postponed, having initially been scheduled to be played a week ago in Sao Tome. The delay came after Lesotho were unable to get flights to the island nation and eventually travelled on Thursday.

Sao Tome’s winner came courtesy of a penalty kick early in the first half.

Likuena were without young star Montoeli Sonopo, who missed the game as he had to report for duty at Spanish club Atletico Madrid.

The second leg of the tie is due to be played, as planned, this Sunday at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru.

The winners of the tie will go through to play Sierra Leone in the first round of the qualifiers for the 2013 finals that will be hosted by South Africa.

Neither Sao Tome nor Lesotho took part in the qualifying campaign for the 2012 Afcon.

Sao Tome played their first games in almost eight years in November. Sao Tome managed a 1-1 draw in Congo Brazzaville in the second leg of their 2014 World Cup qualifier but still lost 6-1 on aggregate.

2013 Caf Africa Cup of Nations qualifying

·         Preliminary Round: Sao Tome v Lesotho over two legs

·         First Round: 14 ties over two legs (29/02/12 and 15-17/06/12) winners advance

·         Second Round: The 14 first round winners and the 16 finalists for the 2012 Nations Cup put into a draw - 15 eventual winners over two legs join hosts South Africa in 2013 tournament

Source: BBC Sport