South Africa, Senegal depart following defeats

Algerians celebrate in the streets of Algiers on January 27, 2015 after their National team defeated Senegal 2-0 to advance to the knockout stage of the 2015 African Cup of Nations. PHOTO | FAROUK BATICHE |

What you need to know:

  • Senegalese journalists blame defeat on poor selection and tactics.

BATA, Equatorial Guinea

South Africa and Senegal are on Thursday morning expected to leave Equatorial Guinea in the wake of group stage exits.

The two sides are no longer needed here following defeats by Ghana and Algeria respectively.

South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba might also be pondering whether it was appropriate to “carry clothes that will last him the entire duration of the tournament” as he explained to journalists when he led the Bafana Bafana from Johannesburg to Malabo for the start of this competition a fortnight ago.

“I think it would be worse if I came here prepared to last for a week or two,” Mashaba said, moments after the draw against Senegal in their second match.

South Africa’s exit was somewhat expected by a majority all over the continent, with many predicting as much on social media when the draw was conducted last month.

Not even an impressive qualifying run would convince the support base and, in the end, the South Africans — who took the lead in all their three group fixtures but eventually won none — leave here with a record of just a single win in their last 12 games in this competition.

Senegal’s elimination was the biggest surprise of the two cases, at least in the eyes of many a supporter in Bata, judging by their reactions moments after the final table standings.

“Politics might have accounted for Senegal’s exit, not lack of quality. That is always the case there,” a man donning Burkina Faso’s national team jersey and scarf explained at the table we were sharing inside the pub.

Team selection might also have played a factor in the West African side’s downfall, judging by the discussions between the team and technical bench, moments after the team’s draw with South Africa in the penultimate group fixture in Mongomo over the weekend.

BAFFLING DECISION

A 2-0 defeat to the Desert Foxes on Tuesday might have confirmed the damage, but cracks had started to appear during the West African side’s penultimate group fixture against South Africa in Mongomo.

In the game, coach Alain Giresse excluded Newcastle United attacker Papiss Demba Cisse in his starting line-up, much to the dismay of the country’s journalists and a number of supporters attached to the home side who kept on singing the Premier League star’s name as the proceedings progressed.

This decision was always going to be a masterstroke if Senegal triumphed in the contest, but that wasn’t the case, and so, the same quickly became a point of reference.

“Many fans on social media back home are of the suggestion Cisse should have started this match at the expense of (Mame) Diouf considering the experience and finishing statistics of the two players,” a journalist posed to Senegal’s assistant coach Aliou Cisse during a brief exchange down the tunnel.

Another baffling decision, to leave out one of the team’s best players, former Chelsea forward Demba Ba who is currently based in Turkey from the squad, is now proving questionable, to say the least.