EXCLUSIVE: Teboho Letsema Declares Lesotho Has ‘Nothing to Lose’ in Clash with South Africa

Lesotho international Teboho Letsema (23) believes his team has nothing to lose when they square off against South Africa on Friday.

The Crocodiles, currently positioned at 149th in the world rankings, will be making their way to Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the 1996 African champions.

Having secured just one victory in their last four outings, Leslie Notsi’s squad sits fourth in a group that features Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Benin.

Letsema insists they will play without any expectations, embracing the opportunity to showcase their style, while noting that the pressure firmly resides with Bafana Bafana, who are viewed as the favourites.

“We truly have nothing to lose in this match, which makes us a formidable opponent, especially since we’re seen as the underdogs,” Letsema stated.

“We harbour ambition, but to be realistic, we are participating in these qualifiers not necessarily to clinch a spot, but to gain valuable experience for the future.

“Nonetheless, I can assure you that my teammates possess a positive mindset. We are determined to give our all and to continually elevate our performance on the international stage.

“If a World Cup opportunity comes our way, we will certainly embrace it.”

The footballing rivalry between Lesotho and South Africa has been well-documented over the years.

Their most recent encounter ended in a 0-0 draw during an international friendly in January 2024, showcasing the competitive nature of both teams.

Letsema asserts that while Bafana Bafana is a strong side, the Crocodiles are not to be underestimated.

“We are well-acquainted with the South African team, having faced them multiple times. It won’t be a walk in the park for us, but we are ready for any challenge.

“Lesotho has displayed our potential in previous fixtures, evidenced by our draw against Nigeria and our away win in Zimbabwe.”

Reflecting on Letsema’s words, Notsi, the coach, highlighted the anticipation surrounding the forthcoming match, anticipating an exciting contest between the two neighbouring countries.

He remarked, “This is a highly awaited game for our supporters, given that we are neighbouring nations and we don’t face each other frequently. People are keen for it, and we trust it’ll be a fantastic clash,” said the former goalkeeper.

“Facing one of the better teams in our region, which boasts talented players and a skilled coach, is certainly going to be tough, but we believe we’ll need to dig deep to present a great competitive performance.”

Following the critical match against South Africa, Lesotho will gear up for their next challenge against Rwanda in Kigali.

Conversely, South Africa’s coach Broos indicated that a home victory would set his team up well moving forward.

“As everyone knows, we have pivotal games coming up. This is a crucial juncture; I mentioned this before, if we can secure wins against Lesotho and Benin, it would significantly enhance our qualification prospects, especially considering other matches in the group,” the Belgian coach conveyed to the CAF website.

“Firstly, we are up against Lesotho on Friday. Lesotho is a team that battles hard for one another. They contest for every inch and every ball, especially when facing South Africa.

“Please expect them to push harder, not just against South Africa but against other teams too. Therefore, it’s going to be a challenging match.

“Then we have our away match against Benin. Our sole advantage lies in the fact that Benin will play in Ivory Coast, where they’ll be facing a large crowd without their home supporters. That gives us a slight edge.”