South Africa (1) 2
Zuma 9 Nomvete 67
Senegal (2) 3
S Camara 3 D Camara 21 Ndiaye 83
There's a lot of growing up that has to be done if South Africa are to regain their status as one of the continent's top guns. For one, many in the Bafana Bafana squad are going to have to beef up physically in order to be able to compete with Africa's big boys.
And the squad's leaders will have to start taking responsibilities for their failures instead of placing the blame on others.
Sadly, though, there's just not enough time to do all these things as the African Nations Cup is just around the corner. And so it could be that a country that was once Africa's best is in for yet another brief sojourn to the biennial, continental showpiece in Egypt in two months.
In registering their third win in as many meetings over Bafana in Saturday's Nelson Mandela Challenge, the Lions of Teranga exposed a serious lack of physical strength in the South African side, and more.
Conveniently, and perhaps largely because of the partisan crowd's chant of referee, referee in protest, coach Stuart Baxter and captain Aaron Mokoena put the blame for their loss squarely on whistleman Falla Ndoye's feet. At the end of the challenge the two, accompanied by members of the backroom staff, stormed at the lanky Senegalese and pointed fingers at him.
Sure Ndoye is unlikely to get a nomination for the golden whistle award on his showing here, but while some of his decisions smacked of him wanting to help his countrymen, surely Baxter, Mokoena and the sizeable crowd did not expect him to judge shoulder charges from the giant Senegalese against the tiny South Africans as fouls. Football's a man's sport and the sooner Bafana learn this the better.
Intriguingly, Baxter had spoken of how he expected Senegal to be physical and said his side would try to combat that with their pace and skill. Afterwards he spoke of how he wanted his team to be more physical themselves.
Sibusiso Zuma and Siyabonga Nomvete, as well as Elrio van Heerden - albeit in patches - showed off their skill and pace to great effect. Not so the rest of the team, most of whom looked like they were not aware this was a try-out for places on the plane to Egypt in January.
For so long touted as a Bafana future star, Steven Pienaar continues to disappoint and yesterday his display lacked commitment, so much so that he should perhaps have not bothered in making the trip from Holland.
Benedict Vilakazi brought his poor club form to the squad while Panathinaikos' Nasief Morris looked like he still hadn't recovered from the Champions League massacre by Barcelona.
Sure they did stage a spirited comeback on both occasions after failing to defend set-pieces (a corner and a free kick), but this Bafana side are seemingly designed to avoid defeat and even though they had a spell where they seemed intent on snatching a win, their defensive shortfall once again came back to haunt them.
Rowen Fernandez, seen by most as the best choice to replace Hans Vonk whose departure from the Bafana scene was emotional as he hugged his teammates when making way for the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper, must take part of the blame for the winning goal.
His failure to communicate with the pathetic Morris allowed Momar Ndiaye to score the third goal and thus rendered Zuma and Nomvete's efforts useless.
Veterans of the squad, the two former African Wanderers teammates showed the youngsters how it should be done as they took the Senegalese head on. Zuma in particular was scintillating in the first half and deservedly scored the equaliser with a simple tap in from Van Heerden's cross.
Souleymane Camara had put Senegal ahead with a header from a corner on three minutes. Poor reaction by the defence to Bouba Diop's free kick that had ricocheted off the crossbar allowed Diomansy Camara to put the visitors back in front.
When Nomvete hammered home the second he sparked a period during which Bafana saw much of the ball but failed to put it to good effect. And then Morris and Fernandez contrived to send the Mandela Challenge trophy to Dakar.
Why Baxter and Mokoena did not point fingers at these two was indicative of the growing up that has to be done at Bafana.
South Africa (4-5-1): Vonk (Fernandez 60); Tau, A Mokoena, Morris, Carnell (Sheppard 46); Pienaar (L Mokoena 62), Evans, Vilakazi, Van Heerden (Mphela 79), Nomvete (Ntuka 79); Zuma
Senegal (4-4-2): Silva; Beye, Diatta, M Faye, D Faye; D Camara, Ndaw, Diop, Barry (Ndiaye 46); H Camara (Gueya 64), S Camara (Tall 79)
Referee: Falla Ndoye (Senegal)
Assistants: Mantuse Nayo and Geronimo Piedt (South Africa)
Yellow Cards: Van Heerden 19 Tau 70