Looking towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lesotho manager Leslie Notsi spoke about his side's chances of making the global showpiece despite being in a group with giants like South Africa and Nigeria.
The Crocodiles find themselves in Group C of the CAF qualifiers and remain in contention for a historic berth at the tournament, having secured one win in their opening four matches.
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Currently sitting in fourth place with five points, Lesotho are just two points adrift of Benin, Bafana Bafana and Rwanda, who are tied above them. Should the team secure qualification, it would mark their first-ever appearance at the World Cup.
Notsi is confident that his side can rise to the occasion and make history.
"We're in a group with giants like Nigeria and South Africa, but we've shown we can hold our own," the tactician told FIFA.com via CAFonline.
"We've secured results against teams with far greater resources, including a 1-1 draw in Nigeria and a solid win over Zimbabwe."
Despite their resilience, Lesotho's attacking output has been modest, with just three goals scored in four games, while conceding two. Notsi acknowledged this as both a strength and a limitation in their pursuit of qualification.
"Our progress is down to consistency and defensive discipline, but we need to be more clinical upfront if we want to take the next step," he explained.
"We've made strides in our discipline and defensive organisation, but to compete at the highest level, we need to convert our chances."
Lesotho's World Cup qualifying campaign resumes in March next year with critical fixtures against South Africa and Rwanda.
"Every match is crucial, especially in March when we face key opponents. We need to remain competitive and united throughout the campaign," said Notsi.
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