Banyana just seem to be getting better and better with time under Desireee Ellis. Nomonde Duma looks at what lies ahead for the African Champions!
Mzansi’s football queens, Banyana Banyana bowed out of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup after a hat-trick by striker Thubelihle Shamase had given them a 3-0 victory over eSwatini in their Group A match played at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday.
That result, however, bared no impact for a makeshift Banyana team and eSwatini as they both started the match already out of the running for the semifinals after not starting well in the tournament.
With the tournament now done and dusted (Malawi defeated Zambia 2-1 to win their first Cosafa Women’s Cup title), it is time to look at what makes us proud of Desiree Ellis and her high-flying charges, who are the team to beat at the moment.
Full-time!
— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) October 10, 2023
A victory for South Africa against Eswatini.
🇿🇦3️⃣➖0️⃣🇸🇿#HBCWC2023 pic.twitter.com/dM3JtrZg8S
Not only that, but these young ladies continue to shine in football, representing a nation that breathes the beautiful game the best way they can. In September, Banyana faced the USA Women’s team – the former Women’s World Cup Champions in an entertaining friendly clash in Chicago where they lost by 2 goals to nil.
But despite their loss, coach Ellis firmly believed that this was their learning curve as they prepare for the Paris Games qualifiers as well as the 2027 Women’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“We are looking at the new (World Cup) cycle which has started. There’s the Olympic Games next year but we are looking at the new cycle for 2027 by giving new players a chance to see what they can do. I think the future is really bright, there’s a lot of positives”, she said.
On Monday, 23rd October, Banyana kick off their 2024 CAF Women’s Olympic qualifiers against DR Congo away from home. The two-legged tie will also be used as a send-off for defense stalwart Janine van Wyk, after the 36-year-old made the decision to call time on her football career.
Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is set to announce her squad for two upcoming Olympic qualifiers. Both matches will be used as a send-off for Janine Van Wyk.#FARPost https://t.co/er0A9zV7jZ
— FARPost_ZA (@FARPostZA) October 16, 2023
If she features in both games, Van Wyk will become the most capped player, male or female, in Africa. Ahmed Hassan is currently the most capped player [Male and female] with 184 caps for the Egypt national team.
By: Nomonde Duma
