Morocco coach Regragui offers Notsi insights on Gabon

…as Likuena take on the Panthers in AFCON Qualifiers

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – As Likuena gear up for tonight’s crucial TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Panthers of Gabon, Lesotho’s coach Leslie Notsi has a few aces up his sleeve. With the stakes higher than ever for Likuena to keep their qualification hopes alive, Notsi’s preparations have been bolstered by the guidance of a fellow African football mastermind—Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco recently thrashed Gabon 4-1 in their last AFCON qualifier, positioning Regragui as the perfect ally for Notsi. Both teams, along with the Central African Republic are in the same group (Group B) in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers, where each match carries immense significance.

Notsi revealed that not only did Regragui share strategic insights, but he also went a step further, sending him crucial video footage of Gabon’s playing style. “Regragui sent me clips of Gabon in action, which has given us the opportunity to study how they operate on the field. The footage has helped us understand their tactics and player movements, which could be pivotal for our approach on Friday,” Notsi said last on Monday this week.

But it is not just clips and tactical discussions that have armed Notsi. Likuena had the chance to observe Gabon first-hand when they played Morocco last month. The timing could not have been better, as Likuena were in Morocco to play against the Central African Republic before their match against the Atlas Lions—a game that ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for Lesotho. “We were fortunate enough to watch Gabon face Morocco live. That gave us a chance to witness their strengths and weaknesses up close,” Notsi said. Now combining their observations with the analysis from the clips, Notsi and his team have a clearer picture of how to approach this game.

Despite the wealth of information, Likuena mentor is under no illusion about the challenge Gabon presents. The Panthers, powered by top-tier strikers such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, are a force to be reckoned with.

However, Notsi remains confident in his team’s ability to match up against the Gabonese side. “They are a tough team with some highly skilled forwards, but we believe we can win this match,” he said with determination.

Likuena have faced top teams before, and therefore they must be ready to take it to Gabon.” The significance of the two back-to-back matches against Gabon cannot be overstated for Likuena.

Having lost their opening two matches of the qualifiers, 3-1 against the Central African Republic and 1-0 against Morocco, Lesotho sit at the bottom of the group. A win in Gabon would revitalise their campaign, offering a glimmer of hope for qualification.

“We dominated possession against the Central African Republic, but we could not convert that into goals. Against Morocco, we held our own defensively. Now, if we can find a balance between those two, scoring when we have possession and defending strongly when we need to, we can achieve a positive result,” Notsi said.

But the road to victory has not been smooth. Notsi candidly admitted that their preparations for this crucial fixture have been less than ideal. A combination of domestic football commitments and injuries has hindered their training.

“Our preparations have not gone as smoothly as I would have liked. We only started last week, and we had to release some of our players back to their clubs for catch-up matches. Additionally, we had the Maluti Mountain Cement Charity Cup in Mafeteng, which kept a few players away from training,” Notsi explained.

Adding to Likuena’s challenges is the suspension of star striker Motebang Sera, who will miss tonight’s game since he picked up two yellow cards in the earlier qualifiers, making him ineligible for this match.

However, Sera will be available for selection in the second encounter against Gabon next Tuesday at Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa. Another concern for Notsi is the fitness of Jane Thabantšo, who sustained a minor injury during last weekend’s Maluti Mountain Charity Cup at Leshoboro Stadium. But Likuena coach remains hopeful that his medical team will have him ready for the clash.

“Jane picked up a slight injury, but our medical team is closely monitoring him,” Notsi said. Looking ahead, tonight’s match is not just about survival in the AFCON Qualifiers. Likuena also have another significant challenge on the horizon: the African Nations Championship (CHAN) Qualifiers.

Their two-legged tie against Namibia, scheduled between late October and early November, is looming large. But for now, all focus remains on Gabon.

Likuena could not afford to look too far ahead. The most important game is the one in front of them. If they win tonight, it will boost the team’s confidence, not only for the second leg against Gabon but also for the upcoming CHAN Qualifiers.

As the match draws near, the pressure on Notsi and his team is palpable. But with the insights gained from Regragui, the team’s determination, and a bit of luck, Likuena might just pull off the upset they so desperately need.

For Likuena, the dream of AFCON qualification hangs in the balance. The road ahead is tough, but with grit, strategic planning, and perhaps a few surprises, they might just prove their doubters wrong. All eyes will be on Stade de Franceville tonight as Lesotho take on Gabon in what could be a defining moment for the team.