The Likoena players celebrate after Motebang Sera score a winning goal against Seychelles in the second leg of the TotalEnergies Caf Africa Cup of Nations Pamoja 2027 preliminary encounter at the Toyota stadium in Bloemfontein.
By Tladi Moloi
Bloemfontein
A late goal from Motebang Sera secured a place in the TotalEnergies Caf Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Pamoja 2027 group stages after a 2-1 win over Seychelles in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Likoena had to come from 1-0 down to win the game by 2-1 during a second leg of the TotalEnergies Caf Africa Cup of Nations Pamoja 2027 preliminary contest at the Toyota stadium in Bloemfontein.
Lebohang Lesako scored an equalizer before Sera sealed a victory. Brandon Labrosse netted the only goal for the visiting team. The results mean Lesotho advanced with a 2-1 aggregate score after the two teams played to a goalless draw during the week.
The boys in blue and white started the game with a high tempo searching for an early goal but they could not penetrate the Seychelles defence which looked well drilled.
Seychelles were defending deep in their half, but it was evident that they were waiting for one moment to strike with a counter. With just four minutes before the interval the Lesotho defence was caught napping when a school boy mistake by Sekhoane Moerane, a goal keeper gifted the visiting team a goal when Labrosse chipped the ball over the keeper who was way from the 18-yards box.
However, Likoena responded a few minutes from the interval when Lesako’s well placed kick found the back of the net and brought back the Toyota Stadium which was silent back to life, 1-1.
When everyone thought Lesotho was out as a 1-1 scoreline would have resulted in Seychelles advancing through an away goal rule. Sera had other ideas as he headed home a winner towards the final whistle. Seychelles had come to change a game plan and add more numbers in search of the second goal but it was too little too late.
Sera said he was happy that they had qualified. “We have made it. It was not an easy game but we managed to pull through. We knew the opponents would come and pack the bus and try to get us on counter attacks which they managed to get a goal from. We had to change the strategy in the second half, playing high ball to put more pressure in the 18-yards box and that paid off,” he said.
Sera pointed out that the team has got a young players with talent and added that he believes they can surprise many people. “We should have finished the opponents in the first leg but I thought we undermined them and got surprised. We have played against the big teams in Africa, such as Ivory Coast and got a draw and that tells you what we are capable of,” he said.
