Maseru, Dec. 14 — The Lesotho Football Association says that the senior national team, Likuena will return to work early in January 2024, to play friendly matches against some of the continent’s big guns that will be preparing for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament slated for January 13th to February 11th in Ivory Coast.
LeFA Media Officer, Mr. Mikia Kalati told the Agency that Leslie Notsi’s coached side recently went five places up in the latest FIFA rankings after a promising start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, grinding a draw against Nigeria and Benin in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
However, he was reluctant to reveal the names of those continent’s top guns, saying all the information will be announced in due course and the date for such friendlies.
He only said those friendlies ought to be played in the first or second week of January, apparently because those continents’ top guns will be using the friendlies for the forth-coming AFCON qualifiers.
He said Likuena impressive run started at the COSAFA Cup in Durban, where the team reached the final for the first time since 2000 and clinched big individual accolades with goal minder Sekhoane Moerane taking home the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award while Leslie Notsi was selected as the coach of the Tournament.
As if that was not enough, he said the two were joined by Thabang Malane and Neo Mokhachane in the team of the Tournament.
Likuena is now ranked 148th in the current FIFA World rankings out of 199 countries and 45th in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rankings out of 53 member associations.
The boys from the Mountain Kingdom have been paired in group C alongside Benin, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
