Likuena’s dream fades after Benin rout
World Cup hopes dim for Lesotho following heavy defeat
SEBONGILE MATHE
MASERU – National football team, Likuena, faces a monumental challenge to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup dreams alive after a devastating 4-0 defeat to Benin on Tuesday.
The crushing loss in Group C delivers a severe blow to their qualification campaign, leaving them anchored near the bottom of the table.
The match was effectively decided within the first half-hour, as a dominant Benin side surged to a 2-0 lead, exploiting a lack of structure and discipline in the Lesotho defence.
Unable to recover, Likuena conceded two more goals, solidifying Benin’s hold on second place in the group with 15 points.
This result, coming just days after a 3-0 loss to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, leaves Likuena stranded in fifth place with a meagre six points. The growing gap now places qualification for the next round far out of reach, with the team needing near-perfect results and favourable outcomes from other matches to have any chance.
Head Coach, Leslie Notši, acknowledged his team’s shortcomings in the wake of the heavy defeat.
He pointed to a lack of discipline and a rash of unforced errors in critical areas of the pitch as primary reasons for the loss.
Despite the disappointing score-line, Notš sought to highlight the positives from facing higher-calibre opposition.
“The score line is high, but I think my boys gave it their all,” Notši stated.
“For small teams like us, these are the games we like to play because our league is a bit lower. It’s an opportunity for the boys to improve.”
His comments frame the qualifiers as a vital learning experience for a team in development. He emphasized the growth and discipline players are gaining, particularly those earning opportunities to play professionally outside of Lesotho.
The Group C standings now paint a stark picture of the challenge. South Africa leads the pack, with Benin’s victory cementing them in a strong position ahead of African giants Nigeria. Rwanda sits fourth, with Likuena in fifth and Zimbabwe at the bottom.
Looking ahead, Likuena’s remaining fixtures are now less about qualification and more about restoring pride and building for the future. The recent performances have underscored an urgent need to strengthen tactical discipline, technical execution under pressure, and overall team structure if they are to compete consistently at this level.
While the road to the 2026 World Cup has become incredibly difficult, the experience against Africa’s best offers a foundation for long-term development, even if the immediate goal has now slipped away.
