Mikia Kalati
MASERU — Lesotho national football team, Likuena, had a hard kick in the teeth when they lost 3-0 to the Zebras of Botswana on Wednesday night.
The morale-sapping loss came almost a week before Lesotho takes on Ghana in a World Cup qualifier on Friday.
But despite the loss head coach Leslie Notsi is still confident his side will triumph come next month.
The Lesotho senior national soccer team is expected to leave the country on Tuesday for their World Cup qualifier match against Ghana scheduled for Kumasi on Friday.
“I believe we have a team, I believe we have a plan,” Notsi said after the disappointing loss to the Zebras.
Likuena have failed to win their last two matches.
Notsi’s charges lost 1-0 to minors Sao Tomè and Principe in January.
They also lost 3-0 to Botswana in a friendly match played in Polokwane, South Africa, in December last year.
While pressure continues to pile on the team and the technical staff, Notsi believes his team is still a work in progress and requires patience.
“It’s a test of character, but we will have to be ready for crucial games against both Ghana and Sudan,” said the coach.
“It’s frustrating.
“However I believe with time the team will get it right,” said the former Matlama coach.
Notsi noted that he gave a chance to new players and tried new formations.
“We are playing well with the ball as usual and creating chances, but we just can’t convert them,” he said.
Likuena players told the Sunday Express that late preparations were the main reason for their poor performance against Botswana on Wednesday.
“We did not have enough time to gel as a team.
“We have new faces in the team and it was always going to take them time to settle,” said one of the senior players.
“The team played well against Burundi late last year because we had prepared long before that match.
“We also played a number of friendly games,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ghana coach, Kwesi Appiah, has named a youthful squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zambia.
Ghana and Lesotho last met in the group stages of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Ghana won both matches, beating Lesotho 3-2 in the first leg match before finishing the job with a 3-0 win in Accra.
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