Banyana Through To The AWCON Final, Ellis Reacts

Banyana Banyana are through to the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after beating Zambia 1-0 in a tough semifinal in Morocco on Monday night.

The South African senior women national team scored the priceless winning goal from the penalty spot after Linda Motlhalo converted deep in stoppage-time.

It was a hard-fought win for the South Africans as the Zambians put up a fight. Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges had to wait until the final minutes of the match when the referee awarded the penalty after consulting the VAR following a foul on Jermaine Seoposenwe.

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Banyana coach Desiree Ellis dedicated the win to the group 2018 who also reached the final and lost to Nigeria on penalties. “In 2018 we came so close, there was no competition in 2020 and before we started our camp, we sat down as a group and said what is our main objective? The first one was to qualify for the World Cup, the second was to win the final – we cannot win the final if we’re not in the final,” Ellis told the media after the match.

“This time is another chance after coming so close in 2018, and it’s not just for us but for the players who were there in 2018, the coaches that were part of us, so it’s all for those people back home for the support they’ve given us.

“The players were absolutely magnificent today, whatever we asked of them they gave it. When we made the changes, they gave it [their all], they put their bodies on the line and I thought they were absolutely magnificent.”

On what it means to be in a second successive final for her and the team, Ellis responded: “It means a lot to us. We want to give ourselves another chance of getting that elusive gold medal.”

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JORDAAN CONGRATULATES BANYANA

South African Football Association (SAFA) president, Dr Danny Jordaan, has heaped praise on Banyana after coach Ellis’ side reached the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Monday night.

Banyana beat Zambia 1-0 in a tough semifinal in Morocco to reach a successive WAFCON final after playing against Nigeria in the 2018 edition of the tournament. “Banyana Banyana achieved this feat on Mandela Day and marked it by clinching a place in the final. We send our congratulations to the team after this massive effort,” Dr Jordaan said.