Lesotho national football team

Lesotho
Nickname(s)	Likuena (Crocodiles)
Association	Lesotho Football Association
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Leslie Notši
Most caps	Nkau Lerotholi (66)
Top scorer	Sera Motebang ; Refiloe Potse (9)
Home stadium	Setsoto Stadium
FIFA code	LES
FIFA ranking
Current	146 1 (10 February 2022)
Highest	105 (August 2014)
Lowest	185 (August 2011)
First international
	Lesotho 2–1 Malawi ; (Malawi; 8 August 1970)
Biggest win
	Lesotho 5–0 Swaziland ; (Maseru, Lesotho; 14 April 2006)
Biggest defeat
	Zambia 9–0 Lesotho ; (Botswana; 8 August 1988)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances	19 (first in 1997)
Best result	Runners-up (2000)
Medal record
COSAFA Cup

The Lesotho national football team represents Lesotho in men's international football and is governed by the Lesotho Football Association. The team's nickname is "Likuena" (Crocodiles). The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals and the Africa Cup of Nations finals in history. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

History[]

The team played their first international match in 1970, a 2–1 victory against Malawi. They have not qualified for a FIFA World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations yet.

Their highest position in the FIFA World Ranking was 105th in August 2014.

Their biggest ever win was 5–0 against Swaziland in April 2006.

From 2004 to 2006, the German Antoine Hey coached the national side. The ambitious goal was the qualification for the 2010 World Cup in neighbouring South Africa. However, after one and a half years, Hey was dismissed for failing. The successor was the Serb Zavisa Milosavljevic, who was also dismissed in September 2009 and was replaced by Lesotho native Leslie Notši, who was previously the assistant coach of the national team. In 2014 Seephephe "Mochini" Matete trained the team, a former international. Moses Maliehe became the coach in 2016.

The biggest success of the national team was reaching the final of the 2000 COSAFA Cup. In 2005 the qualified for the 2005 African Youth Championship. They finished third place of Group B, with a win and two losses.

The nickname of the national team is Likuena (Sesotho for "the crocodiles").

Recent results and fixtures[]

2021[]

27 March 2021 AFCONQ	Lesotho	0–0	Sierra Leone	Setsoto Stadium, Maseru
15:00 UTC+2		Report		Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)

30 March 2021 AFCONQ	Nigeria	3–0	Lesotho	Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos
18:00 UTC+2	Osimhen 23' Etebo 50' Onuachu 83'	Report		Referee: Fabricio Duarte (Cape Verde)

6 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	Eswatini	3–1	Lesotho	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
14:00 UTC+2	30' F. Badenhorst 42' 57' 66' F. Mamba 45' 78'	Report	J. Thabantso 7' T. Khutlang 45+4' 72'	Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)

8 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	Zambia	1–2	Lesotho	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2	K. Chongo 1' J. Shonga 2' B. Sakala 6'	Report	20' 37' S. Motebang 70', 88'	Stadium: Wolfson Stadium Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)

10 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	Lesotho	0–4	Botswana	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2	37' 45+3' N. Lerotholi 47'	Report	T. Setsile 18' T. Orebonye 28', 45+4' (pen.), 69' G. Mohutsiwa 48' T. Kgamanyane 73'	Stadium: Wolfson Stadium Referee: Thulani Sibandze (Eswatini)

13 July 2021 COSAFA Cup Group A	South Africa	4–0	Lesotho	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2	S. Letsoalo 5', 44', 57' S. Mkhulise 20' 74' 89'	Report	40' 56' M. Nkoto 67' 73'	Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)

2022[]

21-29 March 2023 AFCON Q preliminary round	Seychelles	v	Lesotho	Victoria, Seychelles
				Stadium: Stade Linité

21-29 March 2023 AFCON Q preliminary round	Lesotho	v	Seychelles	Maseru, Lesotho
				Stadium: Setsoto Stadium

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following 21 players were selected for the 2021 COSAFA Cup.^[3]

Caps and goals correct as of 13 July 2021, after the match against South Africa

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK		(1998-12-22) 22 December 1998 (age 23)	15	0	Lesotho Defence Force
13	1GK		(2000-12-01) 1 December 2000 (age 21)	1	0	Lioli
16	1GK		(1997-09-18) 18 September 1997 (age 24)	8	0	Lesotho Mounted Police Service

2	2DF		(1994-11-22) 22 November 1994 (age 27)	7	0	Linare
3	2DF	Basia Makepe	(1991-03-04) 4 March 1991 (age 31)	49	1	Lesotho Mounted Police Service
8	2DF		(1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 (age 27)	29	0	Bantu
14	2DF		(1997-06-10) 10 June 1997 (age 24)	8	0	Lesotho Correctional Services
19	2DF	Nkau Lerotholi	(1990-09-27) 27 September 1990 (age 31)	66	2	Lesotho Mounted Police Service

4	3MF		(1997-07-15) 15 July 1997 (age 24)	23	0	Lesotho Defence Force
5	3MF	Tshwarelo Bereng	(1990-10-30) 30 October 1990 (age 31)	15	1	Marumo Gallants
6	3MF		(1993-02-24) 24 February 1993 (age 29)	12	0	Matlama
7	3MF		(1999-10-22) 22 October 1999 (age 22)	4	0	Lioli
10	3MF		(1997-02-23) 23 February 1997 (age 25)	20	1	Bantu
12	3MF		(1989-08-06) 6 August 1989 (age 32)	0	0	Lesotho Defence Force
15	3MF	Jane Thabantso	(1996-01-22) 22 January 1996 (age 26)	60	8	Matlama
18	3MF	Tumelo Khutlang	(1995-10-23) 23 October 1995 (age 26)	40	3	Black Leopards

9	4FW	Sera Motebang	(1995-05-01) 1 May 1995 (age 26)	40	9	Bloemfontein Celtic
11	4FW		(1996-09-14) 14 September 1996 (age 25)	2	0	Likhopo
17	4FW	Masoabi Nkoto	(1992-01-14) 14 January 1992 (age 30)	30	2	Merani Martvili
20	4FW	Thabiso Brown	(1995-10-03) 3 October 1995 (age 26)	11	1	Aurora

Recent call-ups[]

The following players have also been called up to the Lesotho squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK		(1998-12-22) 22 December 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Matlama	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
GK		(1992-06-16) 16 June 1992 (age 29)	0	0	Bantu	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021

DF			3	0	Bantu	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
DF		(1994-11-05) 5 November 1994 (age 27)	16	0	Bantu	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
DF		(1993-05-23) 23 May 1993 (age 28)	1	0	Matlama	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021

MF		(1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 27)	1	0	Bantu	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
MF		(1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 27)	1	0		v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
MF	Hlompho Kalake	(1994-09-02) 2 September 1994 (age 27)	53	7	Bantu	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
MF		(1998-04-21) 21 April 1998 (age 23)	1	0	Kick 4 Life	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
MF		(1996-09-22) 22 September 1996 (age 25)	1	0	Bantu	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
MF		(1992-02-20) 20 February 1992 (age 30)	26	1	Bantu	v. Nigeria; March 30, 2021
^INJ Withdrew due to injury ^PRE Preliminary squad / standby ^RET Retired from the national team ^SUS Serving suspension ^WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Player records[]

As of 13 July 2021

Players in bold are still active with Lesotho.

Most appearances
Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Nkau Lerotholi	66	2	2008–present
2	Jane Thabantso	60	8	2015–present
3	Hlompho Kalake	53	7	2015–present
	Tšoanelo Koetle	53	2	2011–present
	Bushi Moletsane	53	3	2004–2015
6	Basia Makepe	49	1	2012–present
6	Thapelo Mokhele	49	2	2006–2018
8	Mabuti Potloane	46	2	2012–2018
9	Thapelo Tale	45	7	2008–present
10	Thabo Masualle	42	2	2006–2015

Top goalscorers
Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Refiloe Potse	9	23	0.39	1998–2009
1	Sera Motebang	9	40	0.23	2016–present
3	Tsepo Seturumane	8	38	0.21	2013–present
3	Jane Thabantso	8	60	0.13	2015–present
5	Thapelo Tale	7	45	0.16	2008–present
5	Hlompho Kalake	7	53	0.13	2015–present
7	Teele Nts'onyana	5	19	0.26	1995–2004
		5	20	0.25	1998–2004
		5	22	0.23	1998–2006
10		4	23	0.17	2003–2013
	Sello Muso	4	29	0.14	2006–2009
	Lehlohonolo Seema	4	35	0.11	1998–2008
	Ralekoti Mokhahlane	4	38	0.11	2006–2018
	Bokang Mothoana	4	39	0.1	2005–2017

Managers[]

April Phumo (1979–95)
(2000–??)
(2003–04)
Antoine Hey (2004–06)
Motheo Mohapi (2006–07)
Zaviša Milosavljević (2007–09)
Leslie Notši (2009, caretaker)
Leslie Notši (2011–13)
(2013, caretaker)
Seephephe Matete (2014–15)
Moses Maliehe (2015–2019)
Mpitsa Marai (2019)
Thabo Senong (2019–2021)
Leslie Notši (2021–)

Competitive record[]

FIFA World Cup[]

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1970	Part of United Kingdom								Part of United Kingdom
1974	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	1	6
1978	Did not enter								Did not enter
1982	Did not qualify								2	0	1	1	2	4
1986	Withdrew								Withdrew
1990	Withdrew								Withdrew
1994	Did not enter								Did not enter
1998	Did not enter								Did not enter
2002	Did not qualify								2	0	0	2	0	3
2006									2	0	1	1	1	4
2010									6	0	0	6	2	16
2014									8	2	3	3	7	17
2018									2	0	2	0	1	1
2022									2	0	2	0	1	1
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total		0/22							26	2	10	14	15	55

Africa Cup of Nations[]

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1957 to 1963	Part of United Kingdom
1965 to 1972	Did not enter
1974	Did not qualify
1976	Withdrew
1978	Did not enter
1980 to 1982	Did not qualify
1984	Withdrew
1986	Did not enter
1988	Withdrew
1990 to 1992	Did not enter
1994	Did not qualify
1996	Withdrew during qualifying
1998	Banned for withdrawing in 1996
2000 to 2010	Did not qualify
2012	Did not enter
2013 to 2021	Did not qualify
2023	To be determined
2025	To be determined
Total		0/33

COSAFA Cup[]

COSAFA Cup record
Year	Rank	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1997	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1998	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1999	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2000	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2008	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2018	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	0/19	-	-	-	-	-	-

Head-to-head record[]

As of 17 November 2019 after match against Nigeria^[4]

Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Algeria	2	0	0	2	1	9	−8
Angola	8	1	1	6	4	16	−12
Botswana	30	5	11	14	23	35	−12
Burkina Faso	2	0	0	2	0	3	−3
Burundi	2	1	1	0	3	2	+1
Cameroon	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1
Cape Verde	2	0	2	0	1	1	0
Comoros	5	2	2	1	3	3	0
DR Congo	7	0	4	3	4	17	−13
Ethiopia	4	0	2	2	3	5	−2
Gabon	4	0	1	3	3	10	−7
Gambia	2	1	0	1	1	6	−5
Ghana	7	0	1	6	7	23	−16
Guinea	2	0	1	1	2	4	−2
Kenya	8	1	4	3	6	10	−4
Laos	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
Liberia	2	1	0	1	2	1	+1
Libya	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5
Madagascar	3	1	0	2	3	4	−1
Malawi	20	3	4	13	12	43	−31
Malaysia	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5
Mauritius	14	6	3	5	23	22	+1
Mozambique	22	3	7	12	9	31	−22
Myanmar	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
Namibia	11	3	4	4	12	12	0
Niger	2	1	0	1	3	3	0
Nigeria	3	0	0	3	2	7	−5
São Tomé and Príncipe	2	0	1	1	0	1	−1
Senegal	2	0	0	2	0	4	−4
Seychelles	2	1	0	1	2	3	−1
Sierra Leone	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
South Africa	13	2	4	7	10	22	−12
Sudan	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2
Eswatini	40	12	13	15	41	46	−5
Tanzania	5	2	2	1	4	5	−1
Uganda	5	0	2	3	0	8	−8
Zambia	14	0	6	8	7	36	−29
Zimbabwe	24	2	7	15	23	54	−31
Total	279	51	85	143	224	464	−240

Kit suppliers[]

Uhlsport (2000)
Umbro (2002, 2006)
Uhlsport (2007)
Adidas (2008–2011)
Basutoland Ink (2012–2019)
Umbro (2019–)

Honours[]

COSAFA Cup :

Runners-up: 2000

References[]

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
^ "COSAFA Cup 2021: Lesotho's list of 21 players revealed". Africa Foot United.
^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Lesotho". Elo Ratings. Retrieved 28 June 2017.

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.

[3] "COSAFA Cup 2021: Lesotho's list of 21 players revealed". Africa Foot United.

[4] "World Football Elo Ratings: Lesotho". Elo Ratings. Retrieved 28 June 2017.

[1]

[3]

[4]

v t National football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Associate member of CAF but not member of FIFA

v t National sports teams of Lesotho
Baseball Basketball Cricket M W Football M W WU-20 WU-17 Softball Tennis M W
Olympics Paralympics Commonwealth Games