Sega upbeat about new-look Senegal

Senegal caretaker coach Karim Sega was left optimistic after the new-look national team easily stifled South Africa to a goalless draw.

Senegal, who fielded a young squad consisting mainly of their Under-23 players as they look to rebuild after a horrid Africa Cup of Nations showing, had the measure of Pitso Mosimane’s men in Durban last week.

Even without the likes of Demba Ba, who was not named in the squad, and the withdrawal of fellow Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse through injury, South Africa struggled to overcome the visitors.

“We had a game-plan and we executed it perfectly,” Sega told Kickoff.com.

“I told my players that for the first 30 minutes, Bafana would have the energy and would attack and we must soak up the pressure.”

“I told them to suffer through that spell, soak it up and do not concede. They did that perfectly.”

While Mosimane tried to convince the media that his side did well, Sega could actually be pleased after introducing nine new faces into the squad to signify a rebirth of sorts after their Afcon humiliation.

“It was a good result for a team coming here with little experience, no real training, with so many new faces,” Sega said.

“It was a new start for us and a disciplined performance away from home.”