Bafana Bafana Eye Crucial Win Against Lesotho in CAF World Cup Qualifier
Image: Bafana Bafana gear up to take on Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane, 21 March. @bafanabafanasa via Instagram
South Africa will look to strengthen their bid for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they take on Lesotho in a CAF Group C qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday evening.
Bafana Bafana come into this match sitting second in Group C, level on seven points with surprise leaders Rwanda after four matchdays. A victory would see Hugo Broos’s side take a significant step toward qualification, especially with another key fixture against Benin looming.
The South Africans last featured in this competition in June 2023, when they played to a 1-1 draw away to Nigeria before securing a convincing 3-0 home victory over Zimbabwe. With momentum from their successful Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign—where they secured back-to-back wins over Uganda and South Sudan—Bafana Bafana will be confident of delivering another strong performance.
However, Lesotho, currently fourth in the group but just two points behind the leaders, have proven to be a tricky opponent. Likuena notably held Nigeria to a draw away from home and defeated Zimbabwe earlier in the qualifiers, showcasing their resilience on the international stage. Despite suffering a heavy 7-0 defeat to Morocco in an AFCON qualifier last year, Lesotho remains determined to challenge their more experienced opponents.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos has cautioned his team against underestimating Lesotho, emphasizing the mental strength of their opponents:
“I think we can make a big step to qualification if Bafana wins both games against Lesotho and Benin, I am sure. But we have to do it. These are very important games, very tough games. Don’t underestimate Lesotho, maybe not on quality but on mentality.
“It is a team that fights for 90 minutes for every meter, and certainly when they play against South Africa, they will do one step more, I’m sure of it.”
Lesotho coach Leslie Notsi, meanwhile, has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to cause an upset:
“We’re saying, ‘look, as a small footballing country, here’s an opportunity to progress, to go in there, give it our all’. It’s an opportunity for our boys to improve, to get that international exposure, which I believe they cherish.
“Our previous results in these qualifiers have been very encouraging. We go in there knowing that it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to give our all.”
With both teams eager to secure a positive result, an intense battle is expected in Polokwane. South Africa will look to capitalize on their home advantage, while Lesotho aims to prove they belong among the continent’s top contenders.
About The Author
