Mokhosi Mohapi, the secretary general of the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA), recently took to his Facebook page to address a pressing issue facing the association regarding the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In his statement dated March 27, 2024, Mohapi revealed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has instructed all 54 Member Associations, including Lesotho, to submit their home match day stadia for the qualifiers scheduled to be played during the FIFA period for international matches in June 2024.
The Setsoto Stadium, traditionally the home ground for Lesotho’s national team, has been banned by CAF for not meeting the minimum requirements set for hosting International Matches.
According to Mohapi, despite LeFA’s efforts to seek clarity from the Ministry of Sport, Tourism, Arts and Culture regarding the status of Setsoto Stadium, the responses received have been inadequate and lacking in the required information.
As the deadline for submission of host venues looms, LeFA has been left with no choice but to consider alternative options.
One such option is the Moses Mabhida Stadium in eThekwini/Durban, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.
Mohapi explained that after comparing costs, Moses Mabhida Stadium emerged as the most affordable choice for hosting the Lesotho vs Rwanda match.
This development highlights the challenges faced by LeFA in ensuring that Lesotho meets the necessary requirements for hosting international matches. The association is now tasked with finalizing arrangements for the upcoming qualifiers, including securing a suitable venue that meets CAF’s standards.
