…Considers the draw fair and remains hopeful his side will progress
… As LeFA pledges full support
Leemisa Thuseho
SENIOR national football team coach, Bob Mafoso, has welcomed the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers draw, describing it as fair and giving Likuena a realistic chance of competing strongly for qualification to the continental football showcase.
The draw was conducted this week in Cairo, Egypt, for the qualifying rounds that will culminate in the AFCON finals jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
Likuena have been drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, Gabon and Niger.
While Niger and Gabon are viewed as relatively balanced opponents, Morocco are expected to pose the toughest challenge in the group given their pedigree and current standing as Africa’s highest-ranked side.
CAF has scheduled the qualifiers across three FIFA international windows. The opening round of matches will run from 21 September to 6 October 2026. The second window is set for 9 to 17 November 2026, while the final matches will be played between 22 and 30 March 2027.
Reacting to the draw, Mafoso said although there are no easy opponents in African football anymore, he was satisfied with the group Likuena had been placed in, adding that it could have been more difficult.
“I think this is a draw where every team in the group believes it can qualify and it also gives us hope that, for the first time, we can make it to AFCON,” Mafoso said after the draw.
From the 12 groups of four teams each, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the AFCON finals. However, in groups featuring co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda, the host nation automatically takes one qualification spot, leaving only one additional place available.
Mafoso said avoiding a group with one of the hosts was a major advantage for Likuena because it leaves two qualification spots open.
“I think we were unlucky in previous AFCON qualifiers because we were grouped with hosts where only one slot was available, but this time around we are in a group with two qualification slots and that increases our chances,” he said.
With Lesotho yet to achieve major success in international football or qualify for a major tournament, Mafoso said the team must approach every opponent with caution and respect.
“We must prepare well and respect every opponent. Recently, we have performed well against big teams but struggled against sides we believed we could beat, and I think that comes down to the players’ mentality and approach towards different opponents, which we have to improve,” he said.
Commenting on Morocco, Mafoso said they were not unfamiliar opponents, as the two sides met during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
“Morocco is a big team, but we have played against them before and we did fairly well in one match where we only lost 1-0. Playing against them also comes with opportunities because if we do well, we market ourselves and our players.
“Again, Morocco will be going to the upcoming World Cup and we will have the opportunity to watch and study them.
“Even Gabon and Niger are not strangers to us because we already have data on them. My only fear is that we should avoid undermining any opponent.”
As part of early preparations, Likuena have already started a training camp this week at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.
Meanwhile, Lesotho Football Association secretary-general, Mokhosi Mohapi, also described the draw as fair and pledged the association’s full support to ensure the team prepares adequately for the qualifiers.
Mohapi admitted that the campaign would require significant financial resources, especially with Lesotho still without a CAF-approved stadium to host international matches, forcing Likuena to continue playing their home fixtures outside the country.
“In terms of resources, it is going to cost us quite a bit because we will be travelling outside the COSAFA region, as far as West and North Africa, but as an association we are prepared for that,” Mohapi said.
“What makes us more prepared is that the games will be played over two financial years, which means funding should not become a major challenge.
“In terms of the draw, I am happy, especially because we are not in the same group as any of the hosts and that gives us two chances of qualifying.”
Mohapi shared similar sentiments with Mafoso, saying it was encouraging that none of the three opponents were unfamiliar to Likuena.
AFCON 2027 qualifiers draw
Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
Group C: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Somalia
Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Eritrea
Group E: DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo
Group H: Tunisia, Uganda, Libya, Botswana
Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau
