Lesotho through to COSAFA Cup quarterfinals

Celebration Time... Likuena win!

Lesotho           (0) 1 (Jane Thaba-Ntšo)

Malawi            (0) 0

Lesotho is through to the COSAFA Castle Cup quarterfinals after beating Malawi 1-0 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek this evening.

Likuena’s winner was scored by Jane Thaba-Ntšo in the 84th minute and Moses Maliehe and his charges can now start preparing for an enticing challenge against South Africa. The match against Bafana Bafana will be played on Saturday at 16:00.

For everyone else connected to Likuena, it’s time to celebrate, not just the result but Lesotho’s performance.

Needing just a draw to reach the quarterfinals it was evident Maliehe had a clear plan: sit back, be solid and try to catch Malawi on the break.

It was a dangerous plan because it meant Malawi controlled the early stages of the game and had the first real attempt at goals. But, the plan also showed the fruits it could bring when first Thaba-Ntso was denied by a fine save in the 17th minute and then Tšepo Seturumane missed a fine chance in the 29th minute.

Seturumane’s miscue, shooting directly at Malawi keeper Charles Swini after he had beaten the last defender, could have been costly. Although it fell to his weaker right foot, 0-0 meant Malawi remained in the ascendency and in the 34th minute Flames captain Chiukepo Msowoya narrowly failed to connect with a low cross from Isaac Kaliati.

Credit does go to Likuena, however.

As the first half went on Maliehe’s men began to grab a better foothold of the game.

Mabuti Potloane, the team’s offensive fulcrum, put in a heavy shift, making tackles and trying to initiate attacks. Although not everything worked, Potloane’s efforts galvanised the team. At the base of midfield Kefuoe Mahula was again brilliant, his confidence again remarkable.

The third member of the midfield triangle, Hlompho Kalake, went about his job quietly. Because Malawi was on top, he was forced to do a lot more defensive work than he is used to. But, Kalake did it well and on the brink of halftime he showed what he can do in the final third when he forced Swini to brilliantly tip the ball wide from a long range curler.

At halftime the score was 0-0.

The worry at the time was Lesotho’s fullback areas where Malawi consistently found joy and swung in several dangerous crosses into the box. However, curiously, Malawi stopped attacking the flanks as much in the second half. 

As a result, most of Malawi’s attacks started coming directly through the middle or from long balls and these were easier to deal with for Basia Makepe and Kopano Tseka. Malawi’s efforts were more speculative such as Gabadinho Mhango’s snap volley on the turn in the 47th minute or Muhammad Sulumba’s glancing header in the 60th minute.

Nevertheless, because Lesotho started dropping deeper and deeper, Malawi had all the play and Joseph Kamwendo shot just inches over Daniel Jousse’s crossbar in the 72nd minute. It was getting scary at this time. And, in another defensive move, Maliehe brought on defender Motlomelo Mkhwanazi for Potloane four minutes later.

But, just when it seemed as though Malawi’s might become overwhelming, two Likuena substitutes combined on the counterattack.

The energetic Motebang Sera found fellow sub Thabo Seakhoa; Seakhoa brilliantly crossed to the far post and Thaba-Ntso headed in to spark wild celebrations. It was Thaba-Ntšo’s second goal of the tournament; it was beautifully taken and it was game over.

So, South Africa is next.

Line-ups:

Lesotho (4-5-1): Daniel Jousse – Mafa Moremoholo, Basia Makepe ©, Kopano Tseka, Jeremea Kamela – Kefuoe Mahula, Hlompho Kalake, Mabuti Potloane (Motlomelo Mkhwanazi 76’), Tumelo Khutlang (Thabo Seakhoa 56’), Jane Thaba-Ntšo – Tšepo Seturumane (Motebang Sera 53’)

Malawi (4-4-2): Charles Swini – Stanley Sanudi, Franci Mlimbika, Harry Nyirenda, Miracle Gabeya – Joseph Kamwendo, Rafick Namwera, Isaac Kaliati, Gerald Jnr Phiri – Chiukepo Msowoya ©, Gabadinho Mhango

Group B Table

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Lesotho	3	3	0	0	6	0	6	9
2	Malawi	3	2	0	1	4	1	3	6
3	Mauritius	3	1	0	2	2	4	-2	3
4	Angola	3	0	0	3	0	7	-7	0