Lesotho national football team

The Lesotho national football team, also known as LNFT, represents Lesotho in men's international association football and is governed by the Lesotho Football Association.

History

Following Lesotho's independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, the Lesotho Football Association was created, and later, the Lesotho national football team, which played its first match on 7 August 1970 against Malawi, where Lesotho won 2-1.

Lesotho participated in its first World Cup qualifiers, for the 1974 tournament, drawing 0–0 against Zambia at home before losing 1–6 in the second leg and getting eliminated. Lesotho was also eliminated in the first round of qualifying for the 1974 AFCON, losing 1–5 to Mauritius after a 0–0 draw in the first leg. Lesotho faced Mauritius again in their next attempt to qualify for 1980 AFCON, losing on away goals. In qualifying for the 1982 tournament, Lesotho lost 3–7 on aggregate to Mozambique. Lesotho then faced Guinea in the 1982 World Cup first qualification round, losing 4–2 on aggregate.

Lesotho won their first ever qualification tie during the 1994 AFCON qualifiers, beating Botswana 4–0 on aggregate, with all four goals coming in the second leg in Botswana. With this victory they entered the group stage of qualifying, managing to draw against Kenya (2–2), Zaire (1–1), and Mozambique (1–1) at home, but losing all three away fixtures to finish bottom of the group.

Lesotho withdrew from the 1996 AFCON qualification and was subsequently banned from the next tournament therefore next entered the 2000 AFCON qualifiers, losing in the first round to Mauritius. Lesotho qualified for the 1999 COSAFA Cup after beating Namibia 1–0, but lost to eventual winners Angola 0–1 in the quarter-finals. The following year Lesotho produced their best ever finish at the 2000 COSAFA Cup, only qualifying for the tournament via disciplinary record. They beat Zambia 3–1 on penalties before scoring two late goals against Angola in the semi-finals to win 2–1. In the final they lost 3–0 twice across two legs to Zimbabwe to finish as runners-up.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Managers

Zaviša Milosavljević, here in the middle of the Pakistan national football team staff, became the manager of Lesotho in 2007

Caretaker manager are listed in italics.

• Template:Flagicon April Phumo (1979–1995)
• Template:Flagicon Lefa Ramakau (2000–??)
• Template:Flagicon Monaheng Monyane (2003–2004)
• Template:Flagicon Antoine Hey (2004–2006)
• Template:Flagicon Motheo Mohapi (2006–2007)
• Template:Flagicon Zaviša Milosavljević (2007–2009)
• Template:Flagicon Leslie Notši (2009)
• Template:Flagicon Leslie Notši (2011–2013)
• Template:Flagicon Adam Siddorn (2013)
• Template:Flagicon Seephephe Matete (2014–2015)
• Template:Flagicon Moses Maliehe (2015–2019)
• Template:Flagicon Mpitsa Marai (2019)
• Template:Flagicon Thabo Senong (2019–2021)
• Template:Flagicon Leslie Notši (2021–2022)
• Template:Flagicon Veselin Jelušić (2022–2023)
• Template:Flagicon Leslie Notši (2023–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group C matches against South Africa and Rwanda on 21 and 25 March 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Caps and goals correct as of 25 March 2025, after the match against Rwanda.

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Lesotho squad within the last twelve months.

Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break ^INJ Withdrew due to injury
^PRE Preliminary squad / standby
^RET Retired from the national team
^SUS Serving suspension
^WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue. Template:Nat fs end

Player records

Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Players in bold are still active with Lesotho.

Most appearances

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Jane Thabantso	94	15	2014–present
2	Sera Motebang	71	12	2016–present
3	Basia Makepe	69	1	2012–2023
4	Nkau Lerotholi	68	2	2008–2021
5	Hlompho Kalake	58	8	2015–present
6	Tšepo Toloane	55	0	2018–present
7	Tšoanelo Koetle	54	2	2011–2021
8	Bushi Moletsane	53	3	2004–2015
9	Lisema Lebokollane	51	0	2019–present
10	Kopano Tšeka	50	1	2016–present

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Jane Thabantso	15	94	{{#expr:15/94 round 2}}	2014–present
2	Sera Motebang	12	71	{{#expr:12/71 round 2}}	2016–present
3	Refiloe Potse	9	23	{{#expr:9/23 round 2}}	1998–2009
4	Tsepo Seturumane	8	38	{{#expr:8/38 round 2}}	2013–2020
	Hlompho Kalake	8	58	{{#expr:8/58 round 2}}	2015–present
6	Thapelo Tale	7	45	{{#expr:7/45 round 2}}	2008–2019
7	Teele Ntšonyana	5	19	{{#expr:5/19 round 2}}	1995–2004
	Majara Masupha	5	20	{{#expr:5/20 round 2}}	1998–2004
	Motlatsi Shale	5	22	{{#expr:5/22 round 2}}	1998–2006
10	Thulo Ranchobe	4	23	{{#expr:4/23 round 2}}	2003–2013
	Neo Mokhachane	4	25	{{#expr:4/25 round 2}}	2021–present
	Sello Muso	4	29	{{#expr:4/29 round 2}}	2006–2009
	Lehlohonolo Seema	4	35	{{#expr:4/35 round 2}}	1998–2008
	Ralekoti Mokhahlane	4	38	{{#expr:4/38 round 2}}	2006–2018
	Bokang Mothoana	4	39	{{#expr:4/39 round 2}}	2005–2017

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
1930 to 1962	Part of Template:Flagicon United Kingdom									Part of Template:Flagicon United Kingdom
1966 and 1970	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1974	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	1	6
Template:Flagicon 1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1982	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	2	4
Template:Flagicon 1986	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1990
1994 and 1998	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2002	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	3
Template:Flagicon 2006										2	0	1	1	1	4
Template:Flagicon 2010										6	0	0	6	2	16
Template:Flagicon 2014										8	2	3	3	7	17
Template:Flagicon 2018										2	0	2	0	1	1
Template:Flagicon 2022										2	0	2	0	1	1
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2026										10	3	3	4	9	12
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2030	To be determined									To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2034
Total		Template:Tooltip								36	5	13	18	24	64

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1957	Part of Template:UK									Part of Template:UK
Template:Flagicon 1959
Template:Flagicon 1962
Template:Flagicon 1963
Template:Flagicon 1965	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1968
Template:Flagicon 1970
Template:Flagicon 1972
Template:Flagicon 1974	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	1	5
Template:Flagicon 1976	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1980	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	2	2
Template:Flagicon 1982										2	1	0	1	3	7
Template:Flagicon 1984	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1986	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1988	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1990	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1992
Template:Flagicon 1994	Did not qualify									8	1	4	3	8	17
Template:Flagicon 1996	Withdrew during qualifying									6	1	0	5	3	16
Template:Flagicon 1998	Banned									Banned for withdrawing in 1996
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2000	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	2	4
Template:Flagicon 2002										7	2	3	3	8	10
Template:Flagicon 2004										4	1	0	3	1	10
Template:Flagicon 2006										2	0	1	1	1	4
Template:Flagicon 2008										6	1	1	4	3	9
Template:Flagicon 2010										6	0	0	6	2	16
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2012	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2013	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	0	1
Template:Flagicon 2015										10	2	3	5	6	13
Template:Flagicon 2017										6	1	0	5	5	16
Template:Flagicon 2019										6	1	3	2	3	7
Template:Flagicon 2021										6	0	3	3	3	9
Template:Flagicon 2023										8	1	2	5	4	10
Template:Flagicon 2025										6	1	1	4	2	13
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2027	To be determined									To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2029
Total		0/35								91	14	24	53	57	169

COSAFA Cup

Year	COSAFA Cup record
	Round	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1997	Preliminary round	7th	1	0	0	1	0	2
1998		10th	1	0	0	1	0	2
1999	Quarter-finals	8th	2	1	0	1	1	1
2000	Runners-up	2nd	5	1	1	3	3	9
2001	Quarter-finals	7th	1	0	0	1	1	2
2002	First round	12th	1	0	0	1	0	2
2003		9th	1	0	1	0	0	0
2004		9th	1	0	1	0	0	0
2005		8th	1	0	0	1	1	2
2006		7th	2	0	1	1	1	3
2007		11th	2	0	0	2	2	5
Template:Flagicon 2008	Preliminary round	12th	3	1	1	1	2	2
Template:Flagicon 2009	Group stage	10th	2	1	1	0	3	2
Template:Flagicon 2013	Fourth place	4th	6	1	3	2	10	10
Template:Flagicon 2015	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	2	4
Template:Flagicon 2016	Quarter-finals	7th	5	3	1	1	9	4
Template:Flagicon 2017	Fourth place	4th	3	0	2	1	3	4
Template:Flagicon 2018	Third place	3rd	3	2	1	0	2	0
Template:Flagicon 2019	Fourth place	4th	3	0	2	1	3	4
Template:Flagicon 2021	Group stage	8th	4	1	0	3	3	12
Template:Flagicon 2022	Group stage	10th	3	2	0	1	4	4
Template:Flagicon 2023	Runners-up	2nd	5	2	1	2	6	6
Total	Runners-up	22/22	58	16	16	26	56	80

Head-to-head record

As of 18 November 2025 after match against Malawi<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	1	9	−8
Template:Fb	11	1	1	9	7	27	−20
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	0	4	–4
Template:Fb	31	5	11	15	23	39	−16
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	3	−3
Template:Fb	2	1	1	0	3	2	+1
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1
Template:Fb	2	0	2	0	1	1	0
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	2	3	–1
Template:Fb	7	2	2	3	3	6	–3
Template:Fb	7	0	4	3	4	17	−13
Template:Fb	9	2	4	3	10	11	–1
Template:Fb	6	0	2	4	3	12	−9
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	1	6	−5
Template:Fb	7	0	1	6	7	23	−16
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	2	4	−2
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	0	1	–1
Template:Fb	8	1	4	3	6	10	−4
Template:Fb	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	2	1	+1
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5
Template:Fb	3	1	0	2	3	4	−1
Template:Fb	25	5	6	14	17	47	−30
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5
Template:Fb	16	8	3	5	27	23	+4
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	8	−8
Template:Fb	24	4	7	13	10	33	−23
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
Template:Fb	15	4	5	6	14	18	–4
Template:Fb	2	1	0	1	3	3	0
Template:Fb	6	0	1	5	4	13	−9
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	1	2	−1
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	0	1	−1
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	4	−4
Template:Fb	5	2	2	1	6	5	+1
Template:Fb	2	0	2	0	1	1	0
Template:Fb	17	2	5	10	10	31	−21
Template:Fb	2	1	1	0	3	1	+2
Template:Fb	43	12	14	17	42	51	−9
Template:Fb	5	2	2	1	4	5	−1
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2
Template:Fb	5	0	2	3	0	8	−8
Template:Fb	18	1	6	11	10	43	−33
Template:Fb	26	4	7	15	26	54	−28
Total	336	64	100	172	262	552	−290

Honours

Regional

• COSAFA Cup
  • Template:Silver2 Runners-up (2): 2000, 2023
  • Template:Bronze3 Third place (1): 2018

Kit suppliers

• Template:Flagicon Uhlsport (2000)
• Template:Flagicon Umbro (2002, 2006)
• Template:Flagicon Uhlsport (2007)
• Template:Flagicon Adidas (2008–2011)
• Template:Flagicon Basutoland Ink (2012–2019)
• Template:Flagicon Umbro (2019–)

External links

• Lesotho at CAF
• Lesotho at FIFA

Template:Football in Lesotho {{#invoke:navbox|navbox | name = CAF teams | title = National football teams of Africa (CAF) |listclass = hlist |group1 = North Africa (UNAF) |list1 =

• Algeria
• Egypt
• Libya
• Morocco
• Tunisia

|group2 = West Africa (WAFU) |list2 =

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cape Verde
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Ivory Coast
• Liberia
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Togo

|group3 = East Africa (CECAFA) |list3 =

• Burundi
• Djibouti
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zanzibar¹

|group4 = Central Africa (UNIFFAC) |list4 =

• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo
• DR Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Gabon
• São Tomé and Príncipe

|group5 = Southern Africa (COSAFA) |list5 =

• Angola
• Botswana
• Comoros
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Seychelles
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

|group6 = Non-regional Members |list6 =

• Réunion¹

|below= ¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA

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{{#invoke:portal-inline|main|size=tiny|Football in Africa}} }} Template:National sports teams of Lesotho