By James Copnall BBC Sport, Dakar

Pheko says Lesotho will use Saturday's defeat to plan for 2006

The Crocodiles lost 3-0 to the World Cup quarter-finalists in Dakar on Saturday, but they have vowed to turn that negative into a positive.

"The game was very difficult," Lesotho captain Malefetsane Pheko conceded.

"We know that the Senegalese have a good team, but we are building a team.

"We have young players, and we knew we couldn't qualify here. We should use the game as a way of building for the next few years."

I am optimistic about the future if we blend this team with the Under-23 side Lesotho coach , Ernest Ramakau

It was a theme taken up by Crocodiles assistant coach Teboho Sopeng.

"The game was very tough, and I think that once we get more tough away games we will get better," Sopeng said.

"We need to build from where we are, get young players in and get a team ready for the next Nations Cup after Tunisia.

Egypt will stage the 2006 Nations Cup finals.

"I am optimistic for the future. If we blend this team with the Under-23 side, we can have a good team in the future."

Ramakau will begin rebuilding against Gambia

Lesotho coach Ernest Mafa Ramakau, who predicted a win for Crocodiles, had picked a team full of defensive players.

His defence of his strategy was a simple one.

"Senegal was superior to us, so we came here to play this game as a friendly.

"Beating Senegal was not all-important."

Ramakau's team also received compliments from Senegal coach Guy Stephan.

Despite his team's comfortable win, Stephan said: "Lesotho's short passing was good, though maybe something was missing in attack.

"But they have a good footballing philosophy, because they tried to create."