The Under-20 national soccer team of Lesotho, Makoanyane XI, has departed for the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2027 COSAFA qualifiers. The team, coached by Motolo Makepe, has been drawn in Group B alongside defending champions South Africa, Angola, and eSwatini. Makoanyane XI will open their campaign against neighbours South Africa on 19 September before facing eSwatini on 21 September and Angola on 23 September.
Coach Makepe expressed confidence in his team's readiness for the challenge against South Africa, whom he described as one of the toughest opponents in the group. He noted that Lesotho had prepared by playing DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) sides such as AmaZulu and Durban City, among others. These matches gave his players an idea of what to expect from the South African Under-20 side, which is largely made up of players from DDC clubs.
Makepe acknowledged that their opponents have had more time to prepare, but he assured that his players are ready, mentally and physically. He mentioned that the team had only three weeks to prepare during the holidays, whereas South Africa's coaches have had a chance to prepare their team throughout the year. However, Makepe did not see this as an excuse for his team's potential shortcomings.
Makepe had previously expressed concern that the tournament would clash with some players' final examinations. However, he said the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) intervened by writing to schools to request the release of the players, with the schools proving cooperative. The team's assistant coach, Tšepo Mokhele, who is a teacher, has been helping the players with their studies.
Although many view Makoanyane XI's Group B draw as a difficult one, Makepe sees it as an opportunity for his players to test themselves against some of the region's strongest teams. He believes that Lesotho needs to regularly face strong opposition if it is to develop players capable of eventually representing the senior national team.
Makepe's ambitions for the team go beyond simply qualifying for the continental finals, with player development also a key objective. He hopes that if they progress beyond the group stages, they can come back having again played against top teams like Zambia. Makepe believes the current Makoanyane XI squad contains players who could become future Likuena stars and therefore need exposure to high-level competition.
Makoanyane XI will be seeking to qualify for the AFCON finals for only the third time in the country's history. Lesotho previously qualified in 2005 under the late Seepheephe "Mochine" Matete, when the tournament was hosted by Benin, and again in 2011 under coach Leslie Notši, when South Africa staged the finals. The team's performance in the qualifiers will be a significant indicator of their progress in the development of their young players.
Key points
- Makoanyane XI faces a tough challenge in Group B against South Africa, Angola, and eSwatini.
- Coach Makepe is confident in his team's readiness despite having less preparation time than their opponents.
- The team's performance in the qualifiers will be crucial for the development of Lesotho's young players.
