Lesotho head coach Leslie Notsi has opened up on the emotional aftermath of his team’s 2-1 defeat to Nigeria in the penultimate round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, describing the result as heartbreaking for his players, who believed they could secure a historic win, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.
The defeat leaves Lesotho second from bottom in Group C with nine points from nine matches, ending their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Nigeria, on the other hand, climbed to third place with 14 points, keeping their qualification chances alive.
Despite a strong showing that saw Lesotho hold the Super Eagles to a goalless first half and create several chances late in the match, Notsi’s men failed to take their opportunities.
Speaking to iDiski Times, Notsi said the loss was particularly painful because of how close his side came to pulling off an upset.
“Yes, we wanted it more,” he said. “This was a game where we told ourselves to enjoy it, but also to dig deep. We created good scoring opportunities, especially towards the end, and the way we missed them hurt deeply.”
He revealed that his players were emotional after the final whistle, feeling they had let themselves and their fans down.
“The boys felt like they had disappointed themselves and the supporters. That’s why they were so emotional. But this is also part of growth—we learn from such experiences, and it strengthens our competitiveness,” Notsi added.
Despite the heartbreak, the Lesotho boss chose to focus on the positives, expressing optimism about the team’s progress and determination to continue improving on the international stage.