SENEGAL TOO STRONG FOR BAFANA BAFANA

COME LET'S GO: Senegal beat South Africa 2-0 to advance to the 2018 World Cup in Russia next year.

Maleka Charles

Senegal became the fifth team in Africa, Friday night to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia next year, after beating South Africa 2-0 in the world cup qualifier at the Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane.

Goals from Diafra Sakho and an own goal from Thamsanqa Mkhize both in the first half of the match were enough to secure the Lions of Teranga a place in the world cup next year.

A man of the match Saido Mane commended the hard work and determination his team mates displayed in qualifying for this lucrative showpiece taking place in Moscow, the capital of Russia, as the reason why the team won the match in the night.

“We tried to work together as a team and the coach was very angry and said we had to do our best, we had to push because it is a big game for any player to play in the world cup.” Liverpool’s marksman said.

Senegal joined Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia to represent Africa in Russia 2018.

The Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, who believed Senegal or any other team in Africa was not better than South Africa, pleaded with SAFA and the technical teams involved to become even more sharper if they wanted to be successful in any cup going forward.

“I see that we are making progress, but we need to move forward more quickly, we need to be in the same page with everybody else in the country, we need to have the back of everybody, SAFA and the organization needs to be sharper and that’s the only way we’ll get better.”

South Africa travels to Senegal on Tuesday for a return leg against Senegal 'JUST' to redeem the country’s pride.