Lesotho coach Bob Mafoso eyes improvement ahead of Morocco showdown

Lesotho head coach Bob Mafoso believes Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco will provide his side with a valuable opportunity to measure their progress and improve their performance.

The two nations will meet in Bloemfontein in the second round of Group A qualifying, with Lesotho looking to recover from their opening-day defeat to Niger and Morocco aiming to build on their winning start.

Mafoso acknowledged the significant challenge posed by Morocco but insisted his players can benefit from facing one of Africa’s strongest national teams.

“We do not often face a heavyweight team like Morocco; therefore, this is a chance for us to develop and continue the path we have been on in recent years,” Mafoso said at his pre-match press conference.

The Lesotho coach is aware of Morocco’s quality and the experience the team has accumulated in recent years, particularly after their impressive performances on the continental stage and at the last two FIFA World Cup tournaments.

The two teams have met before, giving Lesotho an idea of what to expect when they come up against the North Africans.

Mafoso believes another encounter with Morocco will allow his players to test themselves against elite opposition and identify areas that require improvement.

 “Facing Morocco represents an opportunity for us to gauge our abilities against a top-tier team and make the necessary adjustments to improve our level,” he added.

The coach revealed that his technical team began preparing for the fixture more than two weeks ago, underlining the importance attached to a match against a side of Morocco’s calibre.

“We have been preparing for this match for more than two weeks because of the challenge it presents. The most important thing now is knowing how to manage this crucial match,” he explained.

Lesotho will enter the game needing a response after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Niger in their opening Group A fixture last Friday. The result left the Crocodiles without a point and at the bottom of the group alongside Gabon.

Morocco, meanwhile, began their campaign with a victory and currently sit top of Group A on three points, with a +2 goal difference. Niger also have three points but trail the Atlas Lions on goal difference.

Lesotho captain Sekhoane Moerane echoed his coach’s sentiments, revealing that the players are looking forward to testing themselves against Morocco.

“We are very excited to play against Morocco and we will give our all during the match,” Moerane said.

With Morocco bringing considerable quality and experience into the encounter, Lesotho will have to produce a disciplined performance if they are to take anything from the game.

For Mafoso, however, the fixture represents more than just an opportunity to collect points. It is also a chance for his players to gain experience against high-level opposition and use the lessons from the game to continue developing.

The Group A encounter is scheduled for Tuesday in Bloemfontein, with kick-off set for 3:00 PM (1:00 PM local time).