Lesotho Football Association Lesotho fought back from a goal down to beat Seychelles 2-1 at the Toyota Stadium to secure a spot in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027 Qualifiers.
The 2-1 victory on Sunday sealed the tie for the Bob Mafoso’s coached outfit after the two countries played out to a goalless draw in the first leg outing also played in Bloemfontein.
The home side bossed the game from the word go creating several goal-scoring chances but couldn’t not get their way past the Islanders, who from the first leg match proved difficult to penetrate.
With Lesotho enjoying all the ball possession and mounting pressure on Seychelles in search of a goal, it was the Islanders that silenced the stadium with the opening goal of the match when Brandon Labrosse, got the better of Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.
Moerane rushed out of his line to clear the lines but was beaten to the ball by Labrosse to put Seychelles ahead in the 45th minute sending his team to the half-time breaking enjoying the 1-0 lead.
The goal boosted Seychelle’s hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage Qualifiers for the first time in their history.
The second half started with Lesotho once again having the upper hand on the ball and were quickly rewarded when Orbit College attacker, Lebohang Lesako showed his composure in the box dribbling past two defenders to level matters for Lesotho.
With the 1-1 score favoring Seychelles, Lesotho coach Mafoso, introduced the attacking duo of Neo Mokhachane and Lesotho’s all-time leading goal scorer, Jane Thabantšo to add the numbers in attack.
Seychelles finally succumbed to the pressure being thrown at them by the hosts, when Lesotho marksman, Motebang Sera, showed his goal scoring prowess, out-jumping defenders from a well taken Itumeleng Falene’s freekick to seal the tie for Lesotho with the winning goal in the 82nd minute.
