International Friendly: Lesotho vs Kenya – Crucial AFCON Prep Clash
Lesotho and Kenya are set to clash in an international friendly at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, a crucial part of their preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Although Kenya has already secured automatic qualification as co-hosts, they will participate in the qualifiers to enhance teamwork. This match offers both sides an opportunity to assess their squads and new tactics, with Kenya's head coach Benni McCarthy notably facing his home country for the first time.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This international friendly marks the first of a two-legged series between Lesotho and Kenya, with both teams utilizing these matches as crucial preparation for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Pamoja 2027 qualifiers. The game will be played at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Lesotho has been drawn into Group A of the AFCON qualifiers alongside Morocco, Gabon, and Niger. Kenya, as one of the co-host nations for AFCON 2027, has already secured automatic qualification but will still participate in the qualification campaign in Group D, facing South Africa, Eritrea, and Guinea, aiming to refine their squad and team cohesion. Notably, this match will be Kenya's head coach Benni McCarthy's first encounter against his home country since taking charge of the Harambee Stars.
Recent Form
Lesotho has shown decent form in their last five official matches, recording two wins, two draws, and one loss. Their recent victories include a 2-1 win over Seychelles in an AFCON Qualifier and a 1-0 triumph against Zimbabwe in a World Cup Qualifier. Kenya's recent form in their last four confirmed official matches has been mixed, with two wins, one draw, and one heavy defeat. They notably beat Grenada 3-0 in a FIFA Series match and drew 1-1 with Estonia. Additionally, Kenya secured a convincing 5-0 victory over Seychelles in a World Cup Qualifier on September 9, 2025.
Key Players & Injury News
The Kenyan national team is dealing with several key player absences. Long-time captain and leading scorer Michael Olunga is unavailable due to a serious injury, while first-choice goalkeeper Byrne Omondi and talented forward Ryan Ogam have also been ruled out due to injuries. To fill these gaps, Kenya has called up Amos Nondi, Kelly Madada, and Brian Bwire. Key players for Kenya include center-back Joseph Okumu, who plays for Reims in French Ligue 1, and Johnstone Omurwa from Morocco Botola Pro's Kawkab Athletic Club. Lesotho, on the other hand, reports no injury absences among their key players. New head coach Bob Mafoso has assembled his strongest possible squad, predominantly featuring players from the domestic Lesotho Premier League. A key figure for Lesotho is Motebang Sera, the team's second all-time top scorer, who is fully fit and scored a winning goal in an AFCON qualifier in March.