Lesotho shock SA

Teboho Molapo

MASERU — Lesotho’s Under-20 side, Makoanyane XI, has taken another giant step towards qualifying for next year’s Caf Under-20 Championship with a stunning 2-0 win over South Africa yesterday.

Lesotho played Amajita, as the South African under-20 team is known, at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto and a first-half brace from former Mabeona striker Lehlomela Ramabele was enough to give Leslie Notši’s side an unexpected win as well as two precious away goals.

Ramabele left the Matsieng side to join Botswana Defence Force XI in January.

Amajita came fourth at the last edition of the Caf Under-20 Championship and reached the second round at last year’s Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, losing to eventual winners Ghana.

The 2-0 win means Makoanyane XI will play the second leg, set for Setsoto Stadium in two weeks’ time, knowing that avoiding defeat would seal a date against Sudan or Kenya next.

The next round will be the last hurdle before qualification for the under-20 showpiece in Libya next March.

The win means Makoanyane XI have continued with their hot form which saw them walloping Mozambique 6-1 in a preliminary qualifying match at Setsoto Stadium in April.

After yesterday’s win, the Lesotho Football Association’s acting chief executive officer, Mokhosi Mohapi, said the result was a remarkable achievement as Lesotho seek to rebuild a strong senior national team from the youth sides.

“It was always going to happen,” he told the Sunday Express in reference to the win.

“While they were busy with the World Cup we were preparing for this game.”

“The fruits of what we have toiled for are beginning to be seen,” Mohapi added.

“It was a David-versus-Goliath affair and to come out unhurt is encouraging.

“It’s a happy day for Lesotho but we are not going to start celebrating because this is a marathon.

“We should let it run its course first.”

Makoanyane XI are expected back home today.