Lesotho Stun Zimbabwe For A Famous Victory
Lesotho pulled off a huge upset to stun Zimbabwe Warriors 0-2 in the third round of the 2026 World cup qualifiers group C encounter at Orlando Stadium on Friday.
Zimbabwe Warriors started in front foot, neating good passes and controlling much of the ball possession with Kadewere who started alongside debutant Tawanda Chirewa Jordan Zemura and Daniel Msendami in attack looking lively, but the pressure yielded no results as the Warriors failed to capitalise from the few chances they created.
Lesotho however reverted to counter attack football and their strategy paid off in the 21st minute as Rasetuntsa headed home from a corner kick after a quick transition.
The Warriors continued putting pressure with Munetsi’s free-kick in the 25th minute parried away for a corner before Chirewa was denied a debut goal after striking the woodwork in the 29th minute.
Soon after Likuena made another quick transition to feed Thabanso who finished accurately to double the scores for Lesotho in the 30th minute.
Zimbabwe appealed for a penalty in 40th minutes after what looked like a hand ball inside the Likuena box, but the refree didn’t hear non of it.
However, the Warriors were awarded with a free-kick at the edge of the box after Zemura was fouled, but nothing came out of it.
The Warriors made double substitution in the beginning of the second half bringing in debutant Tymon Machope and Tawanda Maswanhise for Tinotenda Kadewere and Jordan Zemura.
Machope brought in some fresh energy and was fouled twice in the box, but the refree denied him on both occasions before he produced a spectacular overhead kick in the 85th minutes which hits the woodwork.
Lesotho tried to ambush another quick attack but were denied by Bernard Donovan.
Walter Musona who was excluded from the first XI after late recovery from a knock he picked in training was introduced for the debutant Tawanda Chirewa in the 67th minutes
The defeat leaves Warriors anchoring group C after third round with two points from three games. They will play Bafana-Bafana in the fourth round on Tuesday at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Meanwhile Lesotho leads group C on five points followed by Rwanda on second with four points despite their 1-0 loss to Benin on Thursday.
Benin are on third position with South Africa and Nigeria occupying fourth and fifth place respectively after drawing 1-1 on Friday.
