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.

2025

2026

2027

Managers

Caretaker manager are listed in italics.

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

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.

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.

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Lesotho.

Most appearances

RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer1Jane Thabantso99152014–present2Sera Motebang76122016–present3Basia Makepe6912012–20234Nkau Lerotholi6822008–20215Tšepo Toloane6502018–present6Hlompho Kalake63112015–present7Lisema Lebokollane5602019–present8Sekhoane Moerane5512019–present9Tšoanelo Koetle5422011–202110Bushi Moletsane5332004–2015

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer1Jane Thabantso15992014–present2Sera Motebang12762016–present3Hlompho Kalake11632015–present4Refiloe Potse9231998–20095Tsepo Seturumane8382013–20206Thapelo Tale7452008–20197Teele Ntšonyana5191995–2004Majara Masupha5201998–2004Motlatsi Shale5221998–200610Thulo Ranchobe4232003–2013Sello Muso4292006–2009Neo Mokhachane4302021–presentLehlohonolo Seema4351998–2008Ralekoti Mokhahlane4382006–2018Bokang Mothoana4392005–2017Lehlohonolo Fothoane4472017–present

Competitive record FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition*1930 to 1962Part of United KingdomPart of United Kingdom1966 and 1970Did not enterDid not enter 1974Did not qualify201116 1978Did not enterDid not enter 1982Did not qualify201124 1986WithdrewWithdrew 19901994 and 1998Did not enterDid not enter 2002Did not qualify200203 2006201114 20106006216 20148233717 2018202011 2022202011 202610334912 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total 36513 18 2464

Africa Cup of Nations Africa Cup of Nations recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition** 1957Part of Part of 1959 1962 1963 1965Did not enterDid not enter 1968 1970 1972 1974Did not qualify201115 1976WithdrewWithdrew 1978Did not enterDid not enter 1980 Did not qualify210122 1982210137 1984WithdrewWithdrew 1986Did not enterDid not enter 1988WithdrewWithdrew 1990Did not enterDid not enter 1992 1994Did not qualify8143817 1996Withdrew during qualifying6105316 1998BannedBanned for withdrawing in 1996 2000 Did not qualify201124 20027233810 20044103110 2006201114 2008611439 20106006216 2012Did not enterDid not enter 2013Did not qualify201101 201510235613 20176105516 2019613237 2021603339 20238125410 20256114213 2027To be determinedTo be determined 2029Total0/359114245357169

COSAFA Cup

YearCOSAFA Cup recordRoundResultPldWDLGFGA 1997Preliminary round7th100102 199810th100102 1999Quarter-finals8th210111 2000Runners-up2nd511339 2001Quarter-finals7th100112 2002First round12th100102 20039th101000 20049th101000 20058th100112 20067th201113 200711th200225 2008Preliminary round12th311122 2009Group stage10th211032 2013Fourth place4th61321010 2015Group stage11th310224 2016Quarter-finals7th531194 2017Fourth place4th302134 2018Third place3rd321020 2019Fourth place4th302134 2021Group stage8th4103312 2022Group stage10th320144 2023Runners-up2nd521266TotalRunners-up22/22 58 16 16 26 56 80

Head-to-head record As of 29 September 2026 after match against Morocco

OpponentPldWDLGFGAGD 2 0 0 2 1 9 −8 11 1 1 9 7 27 −20 2 0 1 1 0 4 –4 31 5 11 15 23 39 −16 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 2 1 0 1 3 4 −1 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 1 2 3 –1 7 2 2 3 3 6 –3 7 0 4 3 4 17 −13 9 2 4 3 10 11 –1 6 0 2 4 3 12 −9 2 1 0 1 1 6 −5 7 0 1 6 7 23 −16 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 2 0 1 1 0 1 –1 10 1 5 4 7 15 −8 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 25 5 6 14 17 47 −30 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 16 8 3 5 27 23 +4 3 0 0 3 0 10 −10 24 4 7 13 10 33 −23 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 15 4 5 6 14 18 –4 3 1 0 2 4 5 –1 6 0 1 5 4 13 −9 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 8 4 3 1 10 7 +3 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 17 2 5 10 10 31 −21 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 43 12 14 17 42 51 −9 5 2 2 1 4 5 −1 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 5 0 2 3 0 8 −8 18 1 6 11 10 43 −33 26 4 7 15 26 54 −28 Total 343 66 102 175 268 563 −295

Honours Regional COSAFA Cup Runners-up (2): 2000, 2023 Third place (1): 2018

Kit suppliers Uhlsport (2000) Umbro (2002, 2006) Uhlsport (2007) Adidas (2008–2011) Basutoland Ink (2012–2019) Umbro (2019–)

References

External links

Lesotho at CAF Lesotho at FIFA