Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis was in a cheerful mood ahead of their WAFCON quarter-final match against Morocco.
Banyana Banyana endured a challenging WAFCON group-stage campaign, but with fate back in their own hands ahead of Saturday night’s quarter-final showdown against hosts Morocco, the South Africans are ready to seize direct qualification for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Desiree Ellis’ side finished second in Group B on four points, three behind leaders Ivory Coast. While sufficient to seal passage to the last eight, where they meet the Atlas Lionesses at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium (10pm kickoff), the campaign has so far fallen below their usual lofty standards.
Following a disappointing fourth-place finish in Morocco last year — where they surrendered their crown to arch-rivals Nigeria — Banyana were expected to set the pace early on. Instead, they stumbled out of the blocks, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Tanzania and drawing 2-2 with Ivory Coast before securing a vital 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso. That run left their quarter-final hopes reliant on Ivory Coast defeating Tanzania in the final group fixture, a favour the West Africans duly delivered.
Now in the knockout rounds, Banyana are in full control of their destiny: a victory over the hosts guarantees a semi-final berth and direct passage to a record-extending third consecutive World Cup appearance.
