Next Cup of Nations gets under way in Bloemfontein

The Free State Stadium will play host to both legs of the Africa Cup of Nations preliminary qualifier between Lesotho and the Seychelles over the next week.

Neither country has a stadium that meets the requirements of Mafoso, who takes over from Leslie Notšio they will play both games in Bloemfontein.

The first leg sees Seychelles as the home team and kicks off on Thursday at 2pm. The return match is on Sunday with a 3pm kick off.

The knockout match marks the start of the preliminaries ahead of the next Cup of Nations, to be co-hosted in mid-2027 by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The aggregate winner advances to the group stage of the qualifiers, which will kick off in September.

Lesotho’s squad for the two matches includes Orbit College goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane, Siwelele defender Thabo Makhele, and striker Motebang Sera, who is playing for Venda in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

It is the first game in charge for new Lesotho coach Bob Mafoso, who takes over from Leslie Notši, whose contract ended last year.