As the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers reach a crucial juncture, Group B will see an intriguing clash on Thursday evening, Lesotho vs Central African Republic at the Toyota Stadium in the Free State. With Lesotho eliminated from the race, this fixture holds higher stakes for the Central African Republic, who still have slim hopes of advancing to Morocco in 2024. This article previews the match between Lesotho and Central African Republic, using key insights to guide our expectations.
Match Details
- Date: Thursday, 14 November 2024
- Kick-off: 15:00 SAST
- Broadcast: SABC Sport, SABC Plus, SuperSport
Lesotho has been forced to play their home matches outside their country, as CAF deemed their facilities below standard, which means the fixture will take place in neighbouring South Africa.
Previous Head-to-Head
In the reverse fixture, Central African Republic (CAR) secured a decisive 3-1 victory over Lesotho, marking one of their brighter performances in this group. This result sets the CAR team as favorites, but Lesotho will aim to bounce back and disrupt their opponent’s qualification hopes.
Recent Form
Lesotho: The Likuena have had a challenging qualifying campaign, gathering only a single point from four matches. Despite their struggles, they’ll look to build on recent improvements, such as a morale-boosting penalty shootout victory over Namibia in the African Nations Championship qualifiers earlier this month. Lesotho has yet to find the back of the net in their last three AFCON qualifiers, with only one goal scored across the campaign.
Central African Republic: The visitors started their qualifiers with a promising win but faltered with three consecutive losses in later rounds, conceding 11 goals without reply. Following a disappointing defeat to Morocco, the CAR Football Association replaced Swiss coach Raoul Savoy with former captain Eloge Enza-Yamissi, who will be aiming to start his tenure with a victory. Central African Republic currently sit in third place with three points and need a win to have any chance of progressing.
Players to Watch
Lesotho: Coach Leslie Notsi has retained several standout performers from the squad that faced Namibia, including forward Lemohang Lintsa, who scored 18 goals last season for Limkokwing University FC. Veteran midfielder Hlompho Kalake and defender Paseka Maile will also be crucial in stabilizing the squad and guiding younger players in this fixture.
Central African Republic: CAR will look to striker Louis Mafouta, a consistent scorer for Ligue 2’s Amiens with six goals in 13 matches. He’ll be supported by experienced midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, who brings a wealth of experience from Marseille. Attacking midfielder Goduine Koyalipou will likely take up the creative role behind Mafouta, aiming to unlock Lesotho’s defense.
Current Injuries
Lesotho’s squad remains relatively healthy, with no major injury concerns reported ahead of this encounter. For Central African Republic, the squad is also close to full strength, with manager Enza-Yamissi retaining the core players from the Morocco match last month.
Betting Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Match Winner | |
| Lesotho Win | 4.50 |
| Draw | 3.20 |
| Central African Republic Win | 1.85 |
| Both Teams to Score | |
| Yes | 2.50 |
| No | 1.53 |
| Over/Under 2.5 Goals | |
| Over 2.5 Goals | 2.10 |
| Under 2.5 Goals | 1.75 |
| Correct Score | |
| Lesotho 1-0 | 12.00 |
| Lesotho 2-1 | 17.00 |
| Draw 1-1 | 6.50 |
| CAR 1-0 | 5.50 |
| CAR 2-0 | 6.00 |
| CAR 2-1 | 7.00 |
| Double Chance | |
| Lesotho or Draw | 1.95 |
| CAR or Draw | 1.30 |
| Lesotho or CAR | 1.25 |
| Half-Time/Full-Time | |
| Lesotho/Lesotho | 8.00 |
| Draw/Lesotho | 13.00 |
| CAR/CAR | 2.60 |
| Draw/CAR | 4.00 |
| Total Goals by Central African Republic | |
| Over 1.5 Goals | 2.60 |
| Under 1.5 Goals | 1.45 |
| Total Goals by Lesotho | |
| Over 0.5 Goals | 2.00 |
| Under 0.5 Goals | 1.70 |
Odds are subject to change based on the latest updates from bookmakers.
These additional markets offer various betting opportunities, from specific scorelines and double chances to total goals by each team.
Betting Tips
Given Lesotho’s struggle to score in recent qualifiers and CAR’s slightly stronger squad on paper, this match leans in favor of Central African Republic. Lesotho may challenge early, but CAR’s offensive setup, combined with their need for a victory, makes them the likelier winners.
Lesotho vs Central African Republic Prediction Breakdown
Despite Lesotho’s defensive improvements, Central African Republic’s forward power could prove decisive. With Mafouta leading the charge and Kondogbia anchoring the midfield, CAR is expected to control the game. Lesotho’s reliance on Lintsa and Kalake may offer moments of danger, but their chances will be limited if CAR plays cohesively.
Predicted Scoreline: Lesotho 1-2 Central African Republic
Predicted Starting Lineups
Lesotho:
Moerane; Matlabe, Makele, Rasethuntsa, Sefoli; Makoele, Lebokollane, Taba, Bereng, Molane; Motebang
Central African Republic:
Lambe; Yangao, Yambere, Zanganga, Ndobe; Ngoma, Pirioya, Kondogbia, Namnganga; Koyalipou; Mafouta
Conclusion
This Lesotho vs Central African Republic encounter holds immense importance for the visitors, as they fight to keep their AFCON dreams alive. While Lesotho has little more than pride to play for, they could still surprise with their newly integrated players. Nonetheless, with stakes on their side, Central African Republic may edge this fixture in their favor.
Related article: Namibia vs Cameroon: Tense Encounter Ends in 0-0 Draw in AFCON 2025 Qualifier
