(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles national football team remains in third place in Group J of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017 qualification stage after losing 2-1 to Lesotho on Tuesday.

The defeat makes it difficult for the island nation to make it to the last 16 of the tournament as only winners of the 13 groups and two best overall runners-up will qualify together with Gabon, the host country.

After playing four matches, Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, has 4 points while second-place Ethiopia has 5 following a 3-3 draw against group leader Algeria.

Seychelles defeated the visitors 2-0 in Victoria and lost 2-1 in Lesotho ( Joena Bonnelame, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The Seychelles' side now has the ultimate test on June 4 at Stad Linite against Algeria, winner of the competition in 1990 and a World Cup qualifier in 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014. The North African team has not lost any AFCON 2017 qualification matches so far and leads the group with 10 points.

The 2-1 defeat versus Lesotho came two days after Seychelles defeated the southern African team 2-0 on home ground.

The boys of coach Ralph Jean-louis took the lead in the first half through Dean Suzette, who also scored the 2nd goal for Seychelles two days ago.

Paul Jane Tsotleho of Lesotho evened the score 1-1 at half-time, and Tumelo Khutlang sealed the African team’s 2-1 victory after the break.