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Senegal's maturity and intelligence won the AFCON 2017 qualifier against Namibia

Xinhua, September 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

Senegal's maturity and intelligence won them the qualifier for the 2017 African Nations Cup (AFCON) against Namibia in Windhoek Saturday.

Both of the Teranga Lions' winning goals came from players who ply their trade in the fast-paced English league.

The first goal came from Cheikhou Kouyate into the first half, while Sadio Mane scored the second in the second half.

Kouyate is a central midfielder with West Ham United in England and Mane is at Southampton Football Club as a winger.

Although six of the Brave Warriors players are playing for South African teams, they could not match the skills and the ball intelligence of the Senegalese players.

Even the Brave Warriors coach, Ricardo Mannetti, admitted after the match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium that his players were in a rush, while the Senegalese took the game with the patience of a python.

"The fans were there, and they (players) wanted to win and that compromised them. We were a little too much in a rush and in those moments Senegal was better than us," he said.

According to Mannetti the Senegalese had the advantage of height and speed.

"When Namibia fell behind, two tactical substitutions had to be made as the team needed speed," he explained.

A humble Senegalese coach, Aliou Cisse, said the game was not easy, and was happy with the outcome.

The loss was Namibia's second in Group K where it was drawn with Niger, Senegal and Burundi.

Namibia lost 0-1 to Niger in June in the match played at the General Seyni Kountche Stadium in Niamey.

Saturday's loss has sent Namibia to the bottom of Group K log standing where Burundi is second and Niger third.

The loss is also the second time Namibia has lost to Senegal after their 1-3 defeat in a friendly match in 2008.

For Senegal, this was their straight second win after thumping Burundi 3-1 to sit atop the Group K log.

Namibia will play against Burundi in March next year. Endi