Desiree Ellis Reflects on Hard Fought Win Over Ghana

Banyana Banyana Dig Deep for Victory in WAFCON Opener Against Ghana

South Africa’s queens of the pitch are off to a winning start.

Banyana Banyana launched their 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign with a gritty 2-0 win over Ghana on Monday night, sending a clear message that they’re ready to defend their continental crown.

The defending champs were made to work hard under the sweltering Casablanca heat, but held their nerve to bag all three points and top Group C. Coach Desiree Ellis praised her squad’s discipline and composure in what she described as a “really tough” encounter.

Defence First, Goals Second

“We always say that if we keep a clean sheet, we can win the game,” Ellis told the media after the match at Honneur Stadium. “And today we were really solid. The whole team defended well.”

Facing a younger, aggressive Ghanaian side, Banyana weathered an early storm in the first 15 minutes, struggling to play out from the back. But once they found their rhythm, the game tilted in South Africa’s favour. A penalty and a well-timed second goal gave the team breathing space, even though the contest remained tight until the final whistle.

Ellis noted that timely substitutions and the team’s tactical flexibility helped settle things in the second half. “We made the changes at the right time, and that gave us better control.”

Cool Heads in the Casablanca Heat

Temperatures soared during the game, adding another layer of intensity. Ellis welcomed the cooling breaks, saying they gave players a much-needed pause to regroup. Despite the testing conditions, Banyana stuck to their strengths: structured build-up play, quick transitions, and defensive organisation.

“Andile made a couple of key saves, Linda dominated in midfield, and we handled Ghana’s long balls really well,” she said.

Social media lit up after the match, with fans applauding the team’s grit and experience. On X one user wrote, “Banyana showing Ghana levels. Calm, collected and classy. Our girls came to defend the crown!”

Eyes on the Prize

It’s a long road to WAFCON glory, but the win sets the tone for what Ellis hopes will be another memorable tournament for South Africa.

“This was intense,” she admitted. “But we stayed in the fight and got the result we wanted.”

With their next match looming, Banyana Banyana will look to build on this performance — and continue showing why they’re still the team to beat in African women’s football.

Source:Sabc Sport

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