Zimbabwe national team head coach Callisto Pasuwa felt star player Khama Billiat was wary of Senegal's physicality in the 2-0 loss against the Lions of Teranga in an Afcon Group B match at the Stade de Franceville in Gabon on Thursday night.

The Warriors were undone by first-half goals from Sadio Mane and Henri Saivet as the Teranga Lions became the first nation to advance to the knockout stages of the continental showpiece on Thursday night.

And Billiat, the star of the show when the Warriors gallantly held the highly fancied Algerians 2-2 in their opening match last Sunday, was a pale shadow of his usual self against Senegal on Thursday night.

Against Algeria the 26-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns star hit the bar with a superb volley and came close on two more occasions as he stole the show from African Footballer of the Year Riyad Mahrez, who despite scoring a brace was not at his usual best.

With Zimbabwe banking on Billiat to shine once again against Senegal, the Aces Youth Academy product was sadly off form.

"The Senegalese were very physical and due to that one of my key players, Khama (Billiat) was running away from receiving balls. This is the kind of football you should expect at this level. We lost but it is not over,” Pasuwa was quoted by CAF.

The record breaking Pasuwa, while disappointed with the result, believes his charges can still qualify for the next round, having drawn their Group B opener 2-2 with Algeria.

The Willard Katsande-captained side will have to beat Tunisia in their final pool match in Libreville on Monday if they hope to progress.
 
"We were unsettled in the first 20 minutes. It was two quick goals that unsettled the team and our boys were jittery too.

“But for the two early goals, we would have seen some good football from my boys,” said Pasuwa.