Malawi coach Patrick Mabedi has attributed the Flames' heavy 4-0 loss to Senegal to numerical disadvantage and the superiority of Sadio Mane and company.
Mabedi said this in a post-match interview after the Group L match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday night at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade in Dakar.
"We started very late and what cost us more was the red card. It changed the complexion of the game," he said.
Mane stamped his authority on the game. He was fouled by Malawi keeper Brighton Munthali who received a red card in the 16th minute with the game goalless.
Mabedi sacrificed attacker Patrick Mwaungulu for substitute goalkeeper George Chokooka in the 16th minute before the Teranga Lions made their numerical superiority count.
The former Liverpool man scored the second in the 68th minute after Pape Gueye's 35th minute opener. Boulaye Dia and Nicolas Jackson put the game to bed with 71st and 77th minute strikes.
Reflecting on the game, Mabedi felt his Flames lost the plot after the red card.
"Senegal have very good players and a great team. They had to find a way to capitalise on their numerical advantage. We had to adjust because we had to react as soon as possible," Mabedi said.
"We had to sit back because we didn't have more numbers going forward," he added.
Malawi host Senegal in the reverse fixture on Tuesday. This is an academic fixture for the bottom-placed hosts who have zero point from three games in the group.