Desiree Ellis Remains Upbeat Despite Defeat in Opener!

Desiree Ellis Remains Upbeat Despite Defeat in Opener! South Africa lost to their European counterparts over the weekend.

Banyana Banyana lost 2-1 to Sweden in their first group game of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Head coach Desiree Ellis has picked some positives from the encounter.

The Swedes were the favourites to claim victory in the game, as they are one of the highest ranked teams in the tournament. They are ranked 3^rd in the world while the African champions are ranked 54^th, which is the lowest ranking in their group.

Banyana took an unexpected lead in the 54^th minute thanks to a tap in from Hildah Magaia. Fridolina Rolfo equalised for Sweden soon after.

The Swedes found the winner in stoppage time thanks to Amanda Ilestedt.

“I thought everything they threw at us we handled really well, and our transitions were really good, but our decisions in the final third could have been better on occasions, and we would have been in [on goal],” Ellis spoke after the defeat.

“When we scored, we still had control of the game. I think the own goal came at an unfortunate time and that put us back a bit.

“We always knew, physically, they were going to challenge us aerially, but throughout the game we handled that extremely well. I am really proud of the players.

“We had a game plan and we played accordingly to the game plan.

“But we didn’t take our chances really and, being the side that Sweden is with the players that they have and the resilience that they have, they kept coming but I felt our defence played really well, but we just couldn’t hold on in the end.” She elaborated.

They take on Argentina in their second match on Friday. Desiree Ellis Remains Upbeat Despite Defeat in Opener!