I believe in Banyana Banyana qualities, says coach Desiree Ellis

Desiree Ellis has backed Banyana Banyana as “the contenders” for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), despite the off-field challenges surrounding the team.

Banyana are competing at the ongoing tournament in Morocco as defending champions, having claimed their maiden crown three years ago. But with a cloud of disruption looming over their campaign, few are tipping them to retain the title this month.

The team staged a stay-in protest upon their arrival in Casablanca a week ago, citing unpaid fees by the South African Football Association (SAFA) related to their preparation matches.

SAFA’s executives claimed during a recent congress that the “minor issue” had been resolved, and that the team had resumed training. However, it later emerged that the matter remained unresolved — Banyana had returned to the pitch not because of a settlement, but because they did not want to let the nation down.

Soon after, they were dealt another blow as the long-standing partnership between their main sponsor, Sasol, and SAFA came to an end — inadvertently affecting the team’s stability and support.

Amid the chaos, Banyana’s final squad was already missing several key players. Talismanic striker Thembi Kgatlana withdrew due to “personal reasons”, while veteran defender Noko Matlou had retired before the tournament. Midfielder Kholosa Biyana is also absent, and Jermaine Seoposenwe has announced that she will retire from international football after WAFCON.

Despite the setbacks, Ellis remains confident. Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of their opener against Ghana at Honneur Stadium in Oujda on Monday night (6pm), the Banyana coach affirmed her belief in the squad.

“We know what we want to achieve as a group. But, as I said, we are contenders, and I think that just takes the pressure off everyone,” said Ellis.

“They are not being mentioned as tournament contenders, but we know the qualities of this team and what we’ve been working on.

“There’s been a lot of outside talk, even before the tournament, back home and during international friendlies. We’ll focus on what we need to do. Yes, you analyse the opposition — they do the same — but we need to concentrate on ourselves and take it one game at a time.”

Ellis will rely on a mix of experience and emerging talent for the title defence, with succession planning already underway.

“Over the years, we have consistently refreshed the squad — some of the players who were not at WAFCON went to the World Cup,” she explained.

“So, it’s not completely new, but the experience of the players who have crossed the final hurdle at WAFCON is key. We reached so many finals but couldn’t get over the line — that mental block has now been broken, and those players will be crucial in bringing the group together.

“The new ones don’t have the scars of losing those finals, but they’ve come in and latched onto the senior players.”

Ellis called on the public to recognise and support Banyana Banyana, not only for their results but for their continued resilience in the face of adversity.

“I think Banyana Banyana don’t get the credit they deserve,” she said. “Through all the challenges, they consistently rise to the occasion.

“They show resilience. Look at 2022, when we lost Thembi — everyone panicked, thinking that was the end. But we have a group of players who rise to the challenge and don’t know how to quit. They fight until the end.

“It’s a group you can rely on, no matter who comes in. The credit has to come from everyone, because they deserve it. When they deliver performances like that, it should be met with gratitude from all.”