By OBAKENG MAJE
27 July 2025 – Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has admitted that it was not their day after the South African senior women’s national team suffered defeat to Ghana in a CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 third and fourth place play-off match played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Friday night.
The South Africans went down 4-3 on penalties after both sides were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. Ghana finished third to claim a bronze medal, while Banyana Banyana returned home with a fourth-place finish.
“We started very slowly, got into the game and got a goal when we pressed. But they came out guns blazing for most of the second half, especially that first 15 minutes. We couldn’t get our foot on the ball to slow the game down, and to take control.
“They were just better than us in the second half and eventually went to penalties, we always knew that we had a chance. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the penalty shootout this time around, so congratulations to Ghana. We live on, and we’ll then start preparing for what’s forward,” she said.
Ellis further said in the six matches that the South Africans have played in this tournament. She added that they managed two wins in open play – defeating Ghana (2-0) and Mali (4-0).
“They drew against Tanzania (1-1), beat Senegal on penalties in the quarterfinals before going down 1-2 to Nigeria in the semi-finals.
“I think some of the games took a lot out of us, but we always knew either getting to the final or getting to the third and 4th place playoff we still had another game. We had five substitutes really because we’ve also picked up some injuries along the way, but that’s not an excuse,” said Ellis.
She said they just have to pick themselves up, these things happen in football. Elliss said one got to give credit to the opponents, in most situations they were better than them and she was not going to sugar-coat that.
“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due,” she said.
Ellis made five changes to the team that lost to Nigeria – bringing on Sibulele Holweni, Regina Mogolola, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Noxolo Cesane and Hilda Magaia in place of Karabo Dhlamini, Tiisetso Makhubela, Fikile Magama, Refiloe Jane and Gabriela Salgado.
“We dust ourselves off and move on. We can’t look back too much. Yes, it was not a great campaign, but we got into the semi-finals and came very close to getting to the final, so we’ll just move on.
“Like every team that comes to a tournament, we had ambitions of winning it, but we didn’t get there. Unfortunately, we did not do well today,” said Ellis.
She said Mbane is the only player that played every second of every match in the tournament. Ellis said this was also the final appearance for South African forward Jermaine Seoposenwe in the national team colours as she announced her retirement before the start of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the South Africans will fly out of Morocco on Sunday and are expected to land in South Africa on Monday evening.
The Guardian 