Defeat fails to dampen Likuena hopes for Afcon 2021 win
NTHETHE MAPHAONG
MASERU – Lesotho’s senior national team Likuena head coach Thabo Senong still nurses hope that his charges will qualify for AFCON 2021 even after they lost 4-2 to the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Senong said they had been pitted against tough Western African teams in the group L tie, but they are going to fight with everything in their hands to make sure they qualify for AFCON 2021.
He further congratulated his charges for the good performance they displayed against experienced, quality players of the Super Eagles team, describing Nigeria as one of the “Super Power” countries in terms of football on the African continent.
“Let me first start by congratulating Nigeria for the good match they showed to us; they applied themselves very well in this game.
“I would also want to congratulate Likuena players for showing courage throughout 90 minutes.
“This was a game of experience; quality verses the right mentality. If you looked watched this match we had good moment but we were not consistent in the right actions and the right applications. For me, that is because of lack of experience by our boys.
“The number of chances we had created and a good performance the boys showed in this match gave me a lot of hope that we are going to qualify but only if we continue to work harder and avoid dropping points,” noted Senong in the post-match interview at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday.
Senong added, the quality of Nigerian players and the experience they showed especially after Likuena scored a leading goal and lost concentration, showed that they are a good team.
“Nigeria is a good team, with the quality of players they have, they are going to make sure that secure 3 points in every match of the group L.
“It is vital for us to focus on the next assignment and also work hard to steal points from our remaining games, Benin, Sierra Leone and even Nigeria away,” he said.
Senong concluded his charges are going to qualify for AFCON after seeing the positive mindset in his players and the flexibility they showed to adjust to different formations during the game.
Nigeria is still sitting in the pole of the group L with 6 points, while in the 2nd position is Benin with 3 points with Likuena in position three with 1 point while Seirra Leone is at the bottom of the group without a point.
