Moses Maliehe makes three changes to Lesotho squad

Midfielder Tshwarelo Bereng is included in Moses Maliehe's
20-man squad to face Tanzania...

Lesotho coach Moses Maliehe has made three changes to his squad for next week’s crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.

In total, Maliehe has called up 20 players for the tie.

The changes include the late addition of young Matlama goalkeeper Monaheng Ramalefane who has been drafted into the squad to take the place of injured first choice keeper Likano Mphuthi.

Mphuthi has been struggling with injury for the past month and suffered another setback while playing for LDF in the Top 4 Independence Cup two weekends ago.

The other changes in Maliehe’s squad are a first-ever call-up for young keeper Tankiso Chaba who has impressed for Liphakoe this season while there is a return to the Likuena fold after two years out for LCS midfielder Sepiriti Malefane.

LCS striker Thapelo Tale is also available to face Tanzania after being named in Maliehe’s squad for last month’s back-to-back qualifiers against Uganda but not featuring.

Maliehe’s changes mean there could be a debutant in goal for Lesotho against Tanzania with LCS’s Sam Khetsekile the only capped keeper in the squad.

Likuena face Tanzania next Sunday at Setsoto Stadium needing a win to keep their 2019 AFCON qualifying hopes alive. Lesotho is currently bottom of Group L with two points from four games, three points adrift of second-placed Tanzania.

To stand any chance of two qualifying for next year’s finals in Cameroon, Lesotho has to win both its remaining games, against Tanzania next weekend and away to Cape Verde next March.

The top two teams from Group L will qualify for the 2019 AFCON.

Lesotho Squad:

Goalkeepers: Tankiso Chaba (Liphakoe), Sam Khetsekile (LCS), Monaheng Ramalefane (Matlama)

Defenders: Mafa Moremoholo (Lioli), Bokang Sello (Bantu), Kopano Tseka (Lioli), Nkau Lerotholi (LMPS), Basia Makepe (LMPS)

Midfielders: Sepiriti Malefane (LCS), Tšepo Toloane (LDF), Mabuti Potloane (Matlama), Hlompho Kalake (Bantu), Jane Thaba-Ntšo (Matlama), Tshwarelo Bereng (Black Leopards, SA), Setho Moshoeshoe (LCS), Tumelo Khutlang (Black Leopards, SA), Jane Tšotleho

Strikers: Motebang Sera (Matlama), Nkoto Masoabi (Real Kings, SA), Thapelo Tale (LCS)

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 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

Moses Maliehe: I warned my players about Uganda attack

Uganda right winger Emmanuel Okwi gave Jane Thaba-Ntšo a torrid time
in the Cranes 3-0 win over Likuena on Saturday...

Lesotho coach Moses Maliehe says he warned his side of the threat posed by Uganda before Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to the Cranes in Namboole.

The loss has left Likuena in a precarious position in Group L of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

At the halfway mark Lesotho is third in the group with two points from three games behind second placed Cape Verde (four points) and leaders Uganda (seven points).

It means Likuena have to beat Uganda this evening in Maseru to get back in the race to reach next June’s finals in Cameroon. The top two sides in the group will qualify for the 2019 AFCON.

Maliehe said he warned his players after watching Cape Verde beat Tanzania 3-0 last Friday evening in the group’s other game. Maliehe said he advised his team Cape Verde’s decisive win would inspire Uganda to come all guns blazing against Likuena at the Mandela National Stadium.

“I told them that Cape Verde beat Tanzania by many goals on Friday and that Uganda would come attacking very hard. I was trying to make them aware of the situation that happened (to us),” Maliehe said

Despite several half chances, Likuena were on the back foot for much of Saturday’s game.

Most of the damage came down Lesotho’s left flank where Maliehe selected Jane Thaba-Ntšo (normally a winger) as a makeshift leftback. Cranes right winger Emmanuel Okwi ran riot in the first half in particular scoring the opener and then masterminding a penalty from which Farouk Miya scored to make it 2-0.

Maliehe made two changes at halftime bringing on Kopano Tseka (a more natural defender) for Thaba-Ntšo. He also introduced Nkoto Masoabi for Mabuti Potloane to support Motebang Sera upfront.

The changes didn’t improve Likuena’s defending, however. Okwi scored a third midway through the second half to seal a comprehensive 3-0 win for Uganda.

“We didn’t play well in the first half,” Maliehe said.

“In the second, we tried to come up with a second striker to push (Uganda) back as we searched for something but that happened for only ten minutes and then from there, Uganda was on top of us. They have a good team and I would like to congratulate them for beating us.”

Likuena host Uganda at Setsoto this evening. Kick-off is at 18:00. In the other Group L game, Tanzania host Cape Verde.

Group L standings:

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