{"id":26890,"date":"2023-03-28T09:18:26","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T09:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena"},"modified":"2023-03-28T09:55:07","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T09:55:07","slug":"explosive-tie-for-likuena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena","title":{"rendered":"Explosive tie for Likuena"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Lesotho. <\/strong><\/span>The senior national team Likuena will take on Zambia in a crucial (2023) Africa Cup of Nations qualifier today at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.<\/p>\n

Likuena host Zambia in the return match on Sunday in South Africa and, to stand any chance of making it to next year\u2019s finals, Lesotho must come out with at least four points from the back-to-back fixtures.<\/p>\n

Likuena are bottom with one point from two games in Group H which also includes Comoros and next year\u2019s hosts Ivory Coast. Because Ivory Coast are hosting, they are already guaranteed a spot at the AFCON meaning only one other spot is available between Lesotho, Comoros and Zambia.<\/p>\n

Likuena began their campaign with a defeat to Comoros and a draw against Ivory Coast in the opening round of qualifiers last June. They faced Eswatini last Thursday in a preparatory game and Lesotho head coach Veselin Jelusic preached that there should be realism when it comes to Likuena\u2019s chances in the qualifiers given the calibre of opponents.<\/p>\n

Jelusic has a point. Zambia\u2019s head coach Avram Grant has named a strong 27-man squad to face Lesotho and it comprises of several European based players including ace striker Patson Daka of Leicester City in England.<\/p>\n

Daka, who will no doubt play a leading role in Chipolopolo\u2019s attack, has scored four goals in 20 appearances for the English club. He also scored Zambia\u2019s only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Ivory Coast last June.<\/p>\n

Another player Likuena will have to be wary of is midfielder Kings Kangwa who plays for Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda. He came on as a second half substitute against Comoros and helped his side clinch a 2-1 victory last June to put Chipolopolo second in Group H and in a pole position to qualify as things stand.<\/p>\n

Although Likuena are bottom of Group H, they still have a chance to book a ticket at the continental showpiece in Ivory Coast to be played next January and February.<\/p>\n

However, Lesotho\u2019s chances heavily depend on them winning their games and hoping results go their way in other group games. Likuena can draw inspiration from their goalless draw with Ivory Coast at the Dobsonville Stadium last year as they attempt to get a result against Zambia away.<\/p>\n

The two countries have met in the past in FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the COSAFA Cup with Likuena winning the sides\u2019 last meeting. Past results between Lesotho and Zambia<\/p>\n

COSAFA Cup July, 2021 Zambia 1-2 Lesotho FIFA World Cup Qualifying \u2013 CAF March, 2013 Zambia 4-0 Lesotho FIFA World Cup Qualifying \u2013 CAF June, 2013 Lesotho 1-1 Zambia<\/p>\n

Likuena have a decent record when they play at the Dobsonville Stadium, but worryingly, have never won an AFCON qualifier away from home. Likuena left the country on Monday to Johannesburg where they were due to rest a night before flying to Ndola on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n

The Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) said the team will fly out of Zambia tomorrow to Johannesburg for their home game on Sunday. The tickets for the game are already on sale.<\/p>\n

Motebang Sera, who is one of Jelusic\u2019s key players, only played 10 minutes in last week\u2019s friendly match against Eswatini. Jelusic said Likuena technical team were easing him into competitive football as he is still recovering from an injury that side-lined him for three weeks.<\/p>\n

A fit and firing Sera is what Likuena need in Ndola if they are to return with anything. One player that was missing from the squad last week was Katleho Makateng who plays for Richards Bay in South Africa\u2019s top-flight.<\/p>\n

He came on for the last 15 minutes on Sunday against TS Galaxy and joined his Likuena teammates in Johannesburg. If the friendly game against Eswatini is anything to go by, Ts\u030coarelo Bereng will play an important role in the midfield against Zambia.<\/p>\n

Lesotho will likely have less possession on and will try to catch the hosts on counter. Bereng\u2019s eye for a long pass to release the attackers will be key for Likuena.<\/p>\n

Likuena squad: Goalkeepers Sekhoane Moerane, Seahlolo Mosoeu, Tankiso Chaba Defenders Basia Makepe, Kopano Tseka, Rethabile Rasethunts\u030ca, Rethabile Mokokoane, Rethabile Senkoto, Ts\u030ciame Ramabele, Lenka Ngaka, Mohlomi Makhetha<\/p>\n

Midfielders Lisema Lebokollane, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Tshoarelo Bereng, Ts\u030cepang Sefali, Ts\u030cepo Toloane, Thabo Mafatle, Neo Mokhachane, Thabang Malane<\/p>\n

Forwards Katleho Makateng, Lemohang Lints\u030ca, Motebang Sera, Jane Thabants\u030co, Rets\u030celisitsoe Mopeli Zambia squad: Goalkeeepers Toaster Nsabata, Lawrence Mulenga, Allan Chibwe<\/p>\n

Defenders Frankie Musonda, Dominic Chanda, Tandi Mwape, Roderick Kabwe, Aaron Katebe, Benedict Chepeshi, Aime Mabika, Teddy Khumalo, Benson Sakala Midfielders<\/p>\n

Kings Kangwa, Kelvin Kapumbu, Lubambo Musonda, Rally Bwalya, Emmanuel Banda, Clatous Chota Chama, Kelvin Kampamba, Patson Kwataine Strikers Lameck Banda, Patson Daka, Lazarous Kambole, Fashion Sakala, Esward Chilufya, Kennedy Musonda, Joseph Phiri<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Lesotho<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Lesotho. The senior national team Likuena will take on Zambia in a crucial (2023) Africa Cup of Nations qualifier today at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Likuena host Zambia in the return match on Sunday in South Africa and, to stand any chance of making it to next year\u2019s finals, Lesotho must […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":26888,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,17],"tags":[233,246,245,858],"class_list":["post-26890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-lesotho","tag-lesotho","tag-zambia"],"yoast_head":"\nExplosive tie for Likuena - Lesotho<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The senior national team Likuena will take on Zambia in a crucial (2023) Africa Cup of Nations qualifier today at the Le ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Explosive tie for Likuena\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The senior national team Likuena will take on Zambia in a crucial (2023) Africa Cup of Nations qualifier today at the Le ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lesotho\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-03-28T09:18:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-28T09:55:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/sites\/62\/2023\/03\/postQueueImg_1679978971.36.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"590\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"354\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Explosive tie for Likuena\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-03-28T09:18:26+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-28T09:55:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena\"},\"wordCount\":813,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/sites\/62\/2023\/03\/postQueueImg_1679978971.36.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Africa Press\",\"Africa Press-Lesotho\",\"Lesotho\",\"Zambia\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"sport\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/explosive-tie-for-likuena\",\"name\":\"Explosive tie for Likuena - 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