Mehalalitoe lose friendly series to South Africa

The Lesotho Senior Women’s national team Mehalalitoe suffered back-to-back defeats to South Africa in two friendly matches played at the University of Johannesburg Soweto campus.

The neighboring countries face-off in the first match on Saturday with South Africa winning  it by a solitary goal and wrapped-up the series with another victory on Tuesday.

Lesotho coach, Shalane Lehohla, who took over the reins in February 2024, headed to the two friendly matches with a youthful squad boasting eight new faces that are new to the international arena.

In the first match played on Saturday, it took a penalty by Nobahle Mdelwa to separate the two countries as the Desiree Ellis coached side drew first blood in the first of the two friendly series.

Mehalalitoe created good chances of their own to get back into the game but were led down by poor finishing in the final third as South Africa held on to their solitary goal to clinch a narrow win.

In the second match, Lehohla made several changes dropping to the bench experienced campaigners such as captain Thato Mapepesa as well as first choice goalkeeper Makibinyane Mamakhabane to test younger members of the squad.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana were quick off the mark scoring as early as the fourth minute through Sibongile Ntoane to take an early lead in the match.

They doubled their lead just a few minutes to the half-time break after Mehalalitoe failed to clear their lines from a corner-kick.

Speaking in the post-match interview, Shalane stated that it was important to test all his players hence he made several changes in the second game, where he fielded several new faces and benched experienced players.

“What was important for us for to see these players in action to help assemble a strong team that will take us forward,” Lehohla said.

“The two games were very important to us, we lost both, but they were a lot of lessons learnt for both teams I think, and they will help going forward.

“The changes we made in the second game is because we wanted to give every player in the squad a chance because it wouldn’t have made sense to have not given other players a chance in the two games.”