South Africa will target a victory over Lesotho when the teams meet in a Group C 2026 World Cup Qualifier, set for the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday evening. Kick-off is at 6pm CAT, live on SuperSport.
Match background
Bafana Bafana come into the match placed second in Group C – level on seven points with surprise leaders Rwanda after four completed matchdays.
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— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) March 18, 2025
They were last in action in this competition in June of last year, recording a 1-1 draw away to Nigeria, followed by a 3-0 home triumph over Zimbabwe.
Hugo Broos’s side will be confident of keeping up the momentum built in their successful Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, which was wrapped up in November last year with back-to-back wins over Uganda (away) and South Sudan (home).
Lesotho, meanwhile, are in fourth place in Group C – just two points off the lead – and have notably held Nigeria away from home and beaten Zimbabwe thus far.
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— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) March 18, 2025
Likuena, however, suffered a chastening 7-0 defeat in their last full 'A' outing, an Afcon qualifier away to Morocco in November last year.
What the teams are saying
South Africa coach Hugo Broos on not taking anything for granted against Lesotho:
“I think we can make a big step to qualification [if Bafana wins both games against Lesotho and Benin], I am sure. But we have to do it, so again these are very important games, very tough games, because don’t underestimate Lesotho, maybe not on quality but on mentality.
“It is a team that fights for 90 minutes for every metre and certainly when they play against South Africa, they will do one step more, I’m sure of it.”
Lesotho coach Leslie Notsi on looking to upset South Africa:
“We're saying, ‘look, as a small footballing country, here's an opportunity to progress, to go in there, give it our all’. It's an opportunity for our boys to improve, to get that international exposure, which I believe they cherish.
“Our previous results in these qualifiers have been very encouraging. We go in there knowing that it's not going to be easy, but we’re going to give our all.”
Key players
South Africa, Relebohile Mofokeng
After his heroics for Orlando Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns this past weekend – as well as a clear backing from Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos – young attacker Relebohile Mofokeng will look to make the most of this clash against Lesotho and enhance his burgeoning reputation.
Lesotho, Neo Mokhachane
Attacking midfielder Mokhachane scored the only goal in Lesotho’s 1-0 win over Central Africa Republic in an Afcon qualifier in November last year, and he will be hoping to find the back of the net again when Likuena head to Polokwane on Friday.
Head-to-head
In head-to-head stats, South Africa and Lesotho have met in 13 matches across all competitions (including in the local-players-only African Nations Championship) since 1995. Bafana have claimed seven wins compared to three for Likuena, while three games have been drawn.
The teams last met in the Cosafa Cup in July 2021, with South Africa claiming a 4-0 win in a group stage match in Port Elizabeth – featuring a hat-trick from Victor Letsoalo.