Banyana trust the process as Wafcon knockout battle looms
Desiree Ellis’ defending champions are staying true to the tactics that won them the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022 — rotating smartly, defending resolutely, and keeping faith in their squad depth. After topping their group with a 4-0 win over Mali, Banyana now turn their focus to a high-stakes quarter-final against Senegal.
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South Africa’s march into the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) quarter-finals has been defined by two key ingredients: tactical rotation and disciplined defending.
As Banyana Banyana prepare to face Senegal in Saturday night’s knockout clash in Oujda, head coach Desiree Ellis is confident her squad are on a familiar path, but repeating a process that delivered the 2022 Wafcon title.
“After the first win against Ghana, we did the same thing we did in 2022 after beating Nigeria – we made changes for the next game,” Ellis said after Banyana’s emphatic 4-0 win over Mali. “It’s about keeping the players fresh.”
That freshness was visible on Monday night as Ellis’ side put in their sharpest performance of the group stage. Co-captains Lebohang Ramalepe and Refiloe Jane got on the scoresheet early, while second-half strikes from Hilda Magaia and debut scorer Ronnel Donnelly wrapped up a commanding display.
But for all the attacking firepower, Ellis remains mindful of the fine margins in tournament football. “This Wafcon is not just a one-sided tournament where you can predict an outcome,” she warned. “One moment of magic, madness, or even a mistake can change it all.”
The coach’s rotation strategy – which helped Banyana top Group C for a third consecutive Wafcon – has drawn praise from former players, including ex-captain and defensive stalwart Nthabeleng Modiko. For her, defence remains central to South Africa’s ambitions.
“It’s very important for every team to be resolute in their defensive moments,” Modiko said. “That could be the decider for a team to end their campaign or go on further.”
Modiko stressed the value of leadership from the back: “Most defenders will tell you there’s not much room for mistakes, so in leadership, I think defenders bring the precision-correct approach to the game.”
With 14 Wafcon matches unbeaten and nine consecutive games with goals scored, Banyana have shown both attacking consistency and defensive discipline. Against Senegal, they’ll need both – and Ellis believes they’re ready.
“Tonight was a statement,” she said of the Mali win. “But we’ve got to do even better. We know we’re better than what we showed in the first two games – and tonight we proved that.”
And now, Saturday night awaits to see if the journey continues.