Lesotho will regroup and continue their preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March as they gather on January 16 for a training camp for locally-based players.

Coach Veselin Jelusic will take his players through their paces as they prepare for the vital home-and-away clashes against Zambia in March that could go a long way to deciding their participation in the continental finals that are scheduled for Ivory Coast in January 2024.

Lesotho have taken a single point from their first two matches in their qualification Group H following a home draw with the Ivorians (0-0) and a loss to Comoros (0-2).

Victories in the games against Zambia would put them in the pound seats in the pool, with the Ivorians having already qualified as hosts, leaving a single place up for grabs.

“The national team will return to work with only locally-based players, while those playing outside the country will be available to link up with the squad during the FIFA dates,” Lesotho Football Association said in a statement.

“(The) 20-year-old Mosoeu Seahloho, who is a product of the LeFA School of Excellence programme, is among new faces that have retained their place in the squad along with Swallows’ Motlalepula Phahlahla, Mohlomi Makhetha of LCS and Linare’s Koenehelo Mothala.”

Lesotho are aiming to qualify for the Nations Cup finals for the first time.