Senegal and Lesotho have made squad changes and preparations for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. Senegal have lost two players, while Lesotho have named their final squad for the two-leg meeting with Gabon.
Two withdrawals for Senegal
Krepin Diatta will miss out for Senegal after sustaining an injury on Saturday during a game against Middlesbrough. He was injured after clashing with Federico Ravaglia while defending a Middlesbrough attack. Despite efforts to keep him on the field, Diatta was replaced by Omar Haktab Traore and has since been officially withdrawn from the Senegal squad. Arouna Sangante has taken his place.
Diatta missed the first round of qualifying matches against Mozambique and Ethiopia. Mamadou Sarr has also been replaced in the Senegal squad by coach Patrick Vieira, with Massire Sylla receiving a debut call-up to step in for him. Sarr is on loan from Chelsea at Real Sociedad and injured his left calf against Lyon in a 1-1 Europa League fixture.
Senegal's qualifying campaign
Senegal began their campaign to feature at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa with a 1-1 draw against Madagascar. They followed that result by edging Ethiopia 1-0.
Lesotho name final squad
Lesotho coach Bob Mafoso has named his final squad for the qualifying double header against Gabon. Lesotho will face Gabon away on Friday, November 13 in Franceville, before hosting the return fixture at New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday, November 17.
Mafoso has kept the bulk of the team that played Niger and Morocco in September. The squad is headlined by players such as Sekhoane Moerane, Thabo Makhele and Motebang Sera. Sera is one goal short of equaling Jane Thabants’o’s record as Lesotho’s all-time leading goal-scorer. Sera and Thabants’o are Lesotho’s all-time leading scorers in the COSAFA Cup, sharing the record with Mozambique player Tico Tico Bucuane.
The named goalkeepers are Sekhoane Moerane, Mosoeu Seahlolo and Katleho Mathetsa. The defenders are Fusi Matlabe, Thabo Makhele, Katleho Koaeane, Thabang Malane, Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Thabo Mafatle, Tlotliso Mapola and Lehlohonolo Matsau. The midfielders are Thabo Lesaoana, Tlotliso Phatsisi, T’sepo Toloane, Neo Mokhachane, Limpho Ralesupi, Teboho Letsema, Pheko ’Molaoa, Lebohang Lesako, Tholang Makuru and Bakoena Ramakatsa.
Mafoso on the team's preparations
Mafoso told a media briefing that his team was itching for a win after a difficult start to the campaign with losses to Niger and Morocco. “We created enough to have won when we played Niger and even if you go back and watch the match, you will see that by the time they scored, we had missed two good chances.”
“Their goals came through a set-play, and another came on transition. As for Morocco, I’m not going to lie and say we could take them head on, but against Niger we took the game to them but didn’t convert our chances.”
“We think we are there and brave enough to give a good show in the upcoming two games. You will be able to see our team in position and the identity as well as what we are trying to do with this team.”
