“Not Ideal”: Ellis Reveals High Stakes Behind Banyana’s Preparation Crisis
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has admitted that the ongoing absence of domestic league football is “not ideal” as the team prepares to defend their continental stature at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The national team’s preparations were disrupted following a lengthy February camp in Polokwane. That camp was originally intended to lead directly into the tournament, which was initially scheduled for March and April.
However, in a move that lacked transparency from CAF, the showpiece was postponed to July in Morocco.
Reports suggest the administrative chaos stemmed from Morocco’s initial reluctance to host. Tensions flared following the Men’s AFCON final in January, where Senegal walked off the pitch in protest over a controversial penalty decision.
Although the CAF Appeals Board eventually stripped Senegal of their standing and awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, the matter remains under adjudication at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
While CAF President Patrice Motsepe recently confirmed Morocco will indeed host the tournament in July—marking their third consecutive time as hosts—the scheduling shift has wreaked havoc on SAFA’s calendar and the kickoff of the Hollywoodbets Super League.
Despite the hurdles, Ellis remains pragmatic, drawing parallels to their successful 2022 campaign.
“If you look back at 2022 [when Banyana won WAFCON], it was similar,” she said.
“We had a long pre-season and played Zambia because we needed the game. We lost 3–0, and there was a lot of criticism, but we went on to qualify by getting good results against Algeria.
“We understood that those processes were necessary for improvement. We then played against the Netherlands, and people questioned why, given that the league hadn’t started. It could have been 3–3—we missed a penalty and a one-on-one chance, and our legs were not there.
“It’s the same situation now with the league yet to begin. It’s really tough on the players because we need match fitness. I hope the league starts soon, as that will help us get match-fit and put in the extra work. The players are already working hard, but it’s not an ideal situation.
“If we sit and complain without acting, we’ll fall behind. We have a plan to get into better shape.
“If you look back at 2018, 2022, and 2024 [when WAFCON was delayed and played in 2025], the expectations remain the same. You cannot have just 10 days of preparation and expect the same results.”
While there is still little clarity on the start of the Hollywoodbets Super League, SAFA has arranged friendly matches against Algeria.
Banyana won the first match 1–0 at Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday, with the second fixture scheduled for Friday at King Zwelithini Stadium.
Ellis, a highly respected figure in South African football and a four-time CAF Women’s Coach of the Year, expressed gratitude to SAFA for organising the camp, which has seen the team spend two weeks in Durban.
“Wow, when WAFCON was postponed, we desperately needed something,” she said.
“Discussions took place, and we accepted it would be difficult to arrange international friendlies at short notice.
“We were just happy to get two matches—it could easily have been only one. I’m grateful to SAFA and SASOL for stepping in at the last minute to provide top-quality opposition.”
