2026 WCQ: Qualifying For 2026 World Cup Will Be Too Ambitious For Us —Lesotho Coach, Notsi Admits

Head coach of Lesotho senior men’s national team, Leslie Notsi, has admitted that qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be too ambitious for his side.

The Likuena (Crocodiles) as the Lesotho team is known, will begin the qualifiers against Nigeria’s Super Eagles today (Thursday) in Uyo.

Currently ranked 153 by FIFA, Lesotho has never qualified for any major tournament before except the regional COSAFA Cup.

Also Read: 2026 WCQ: Uzoho Current Best Goalkeeper In Super Eagles —Omeruo

This will be the fifth time they will be meeting the Eagles with the past encounters ending in defeats for them.

When asked if his team is nursing the hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Notsi played it down.

“Talking about qualifying for the World Cup it will be too ambitious for us but in the COSAFA Cup we played up to the final against Zambia. Coming into this game, the moral is high in our team when we played against Côte d’Ivoire expectation was that we will lose 5-0 or more but we were able to hold ourself and play.

“So that’s why we say this match is coming at the right time and let’s see how far we have progressed.“

The 59-year-old stated that his players are here to get the exposure.

“There’s a lot at stake for us playing one of the best countries in the continent is for our boys to get the exposure. We are coming on a note that we are expecting a very tough encounter.

“I think this game comes at the right moment where we are saying we should see how we can fare against the best team in Africa.

“On paper we are underdogs because on paper when you look at Nigeria with the talent it has in the best leagues in Europe, the expectations is that its going to be a tough encounter.“

He also spoke on how his team will approach the game against the Eagles.

“They (his players) should go in and enjoy themselves, play to their best level and try as much as they can to adhere to the structure and be disciplined.

“When they are expected to defend they should defend together as a team which has been one of our strong point and also take the game to the Eagles.“

By James Agberebi in Uyo

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