South Africa:The Real Battle Is Two Years Aheead

SA bowed out of the African Nations Cup again without a win, but with the hope of lessons learnt and a platform placed for the future.

A 1-1 draw with Senegal in Kumasi last night was not enough to come close to catching Angola and Tunisia -- who would have gone through no matter what S A's result was after their Group D match ended goalless in Tamale.Bafana Bafana did have the better of the two teams but it was again the polish that failed to show up the application.

It started brightly. Inside the first 15 minutes Bafana were ahead after a passing move on the left, started by Tsepo Masilela, delivered by Teko Modise and finished by Elrio van Heerden, who crept in unmarked at the back post.

The team weathered some tough midfield tackling and they looked far tighter at the back.

But it was inevitably a slip that cost Bafana the win as Aaron Mokoena failed to clear a quick through ball by Mustapha Bayal Sall and Henri Camara was free to finish. The skipper, whose 73rd appearance for SA leaves him one behind the all-time record, had been shifted from a defensive midfield role to shore up the backline after the comedy of errors in Sunday's defeat by Tunisia.

A second half of solid attacking saw S A 's strikers handed a myriad chances but their last touch was lacking. Sibusiso Zuma should have scored midway through the second stanza but Senegal's new goalkeeper, Bouna Coundoul, made a miraculous save. He had been brought in after the Senegal coach suspended Tony Sylva and El Hadji Diouf for a boozy night on the town.

Both teams tired rapidly, which open ed up the game in the closing stages and provid ed the potential of a thrilling finish. Seven minutes were added on after Moneeb Josephs had to have his knee seen to three times, giving the other players some respite.

For contrite coach Carlos Alberto Parreira a win might have given him a bit more breathing room but he will be aware that criticism is inevitable from disappointed supporters.Nonetheless he says he will persist with the squad used in Ghana as he builds towards 2010.

"I think we have no options, we have to carry on with the players we have. We brought a young team to get exposure to build a team to represent S A in 2010 in the best possible way. It's a learning process, you have to pay a price," the Brazilian added.

An intriguing cameo was the midfield battle between the imposing Bayal Sall and diminutive Modise, who first looked like a small kid terrified of the playground bully and then gained a little confidence to challenge him in the tackle and eventually got Bayal Sall booked with a clever touch of trickery.