LESOTHO yesterday completed the 2013 COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup quarter-finals line-up after beating Swaziland in their final Group B clash at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
The prize for reaching the last eight for Lesotho is a tough encounter against three-time Cosafa Cup champions, Angola at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe on Sunday.
Lesotho finished top of the group on five points alongside Botswana, but a better goal-aggregate saw the Likuena sail through to the quarter-finals.
Lesotho scored both goals in the first half through Philip Letsie and Tsepo Seturumane.
In this battle of the two southern African kingdoms, Swaziland had no answers to a 25th minute strike by Letsie, who capitalised on a defensive error, before slotting home.
Seturumane completed the day for Lesotho with another strike on 44 minutes.
Lesotho captain, Ralekoti Mokhahlane, who was voted man-of-the-match, expressed happiness at the Likuena's progression in the tournament where R500,000 is at stake for the winners.
Swaziland skipper, Jerom Ntshalintshali was gracious in defeat, saying the Sihlangu failed to convert their chances but conceded easy goals.
Botswana yesterday finally managed to claim the scalp of East African guests, Kenya in their Group B match at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, but the victory counted for nothing as both teams bowed out of the COSAFA Cup tournament.
Prior to this match, Kenya appeared favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals after beating Swaziland and drawing with Lesotho in their first two games.
Lemponye Tshireletso announced Botswana's intentions with a 12th minute goal only for Edwin Olerile to gift the Harambee Stars with an own goal on 87 minutes.
But in stoppage time, Jerome Ramatlhakwana ensured maximum harvest of points for the Zebras.
However, Botswana, despite tying on five points with Lesotho, failed to progress to the knockout stage because of an inferior goal aggregate.
The other quarter-finals will see defending champions, Zimbabwe taking on Malawi in a lunchtime kick-off at Nkoloma Stadium before South Africa face off with Namibia in the other game at the same venue.
Hosts, Zambia will join the fray on Sunday with a quarter-final clash against Mozambique at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Lesotho 2 Swaziland 0
Kenya 1 Botswana 2
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