Lesotho beat Swaziland 3-1 on aggregate to progress to the final round of #AWCON2018 qualifiers... |
Lesotho will
face South Africa for a place at the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON
2018) after beating Swaziland 3-1 on aggregate in the first round of qualifying
this afternoon in Mbabane.
Mehalalitoe were leading
1-0 from the first leg last Friday at Setsoto Stadium and sealed their progress
to the second and final round of qualifying with a 2-1 win in the return leg in
Swaziland.
Lesotho’s
goals were scored by defender Lerato Kheme and midfielder Palesa Mpeta and the
side’s reward is a date against 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship winners South
Africa in June.
Mehalalitoe will host the
first leg and the winner of the tie will be one of the eight nations at the
2018 AWCON in Ghana in November and December.
Both legs will
be played between June 4 and 12.
Holding a slender
lead from the first leg, Lesotho coach Monaheng Montšo went for a attacking
approach in today’s return in Swaziland with United States based striker Senate
Letsie and Women’s Super League golden boot winner Kholu Lebakeng of LDF Ladies
joining last Friday’s goal hero Litšeoana Maloro upfront.
The positive attitude
paid off as Lesotho took a decisive 1-0 lead through Kheme after 30 minutes. Mehalalitoe then doubled their shortly
after the break and although Swaziland scored late on, it wasn’t enough to
spoil Lesotho’s party.
Montšo and his
charges can now look forward to a high-profile tie against Banyana Banyana in
two months’ time.
A total of 24
teams entered the qualifiers for the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, one
more than the number which contested the last qualifiers in 2016.
South Africa
was one of four nations handed a first round bye this year alongside holders
Nigeria, fellow 2016 finalists Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
The seven
winners of the second round qualifying ties will join hosts Ghana in the final
tournament set for November 17 to December 1.
Lesotho starting line-up v Swaziland:
Thuto Maifo –
Mosili Motsoeneng, Lerato Kheme, Macheche Matlamaela, Mamoroesi Likotsi –
Boitumelo Rabale ©, Palesa Mpeta, Tšoanelo Leboka – Senate Letsie, Kholu Lebakeng,
Litšeoana Maloro
AWCON 2018 Qualifying:
Second Round:
Lesotho v South Africa
Congo v
Cameroon
Kenya v
Equatorial Guinea
Zambia v
Zimbabwe
Senegal/Algeria
v Libya/Ethiopia
Morocco/Ivory
Coast v Mali
Burkina
Faso/Gambia v Nigeria
Dates:
First leg and
second leg: June 4-12
Winners
qualify for 2018 AWCON alongside hosts Ghana
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