Motau draws on past lessons but warns of fresh WAFCON challenge for Banyana
Image: BackpagePix
Banyana Banyana midfielder Amogelang Motau has urged her teammates to remain focused and fair in their approach to the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), warning that their title defense will be a whole new challenge despite the confidence drawn from their historic 2022 triumph.
South Africa will open their campaign against Ghana at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda on Monday, with kickoff scheduled for 6pm (SA time). They will then go on to face Mali and Tanzania in their two other group matches in an attempt to advance to the next round in defence of their title.
Coach Desiree Ellis and her charges have been hard at work preparing for the tournament, but the North African climate has provided its own hurdles. With the intense Casablanca heat testing the squad's endurance, acclimatising has become a critical part of their pre-tournament focus.
They say it's even hotter in Casablanca since the arrival of @Banyana_Banyana 🥵
Of course we're bringing the heat! #BanyanaBanyana pic.twitter.com/Cx5vrz9kKr — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 1, 2025
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
Motau, who was part of the title-winning Banyana side in 2022 and plays her club football for Club Tijuana in Mexico, has spoken of the team's determination to focus on the task ahead rather than dwell on past glories.
'The mood is becoming great. We've been struggling a little bit with the heat, but I think we're acclimatising, and everyone is coming into camp. We're just one player short, but I think we're getting the hang of it,' Motau said ahead of their tournament opener.
The 2022 WAFCON champions went through the previous edition undefeated, but with a new-look group featuring teams they did not face in their last campaign—or even during their recent build-up matches—Motau believes the defending champions will need to be sharp from the outset.
'That is the mentality the technical team is trying to instill in us. She continued.
'We need to come into this tournament just like we came into the last one. We're contenders. We take it one game at a time.
'The focus is on ourselves. The analysis team will do the work that's needed for them to inform us about the game, but other than that, we're going well.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
Desiree Ellis praises Banyana Banyan a veteran Lebogang Ramalepe ahead of Wafcon quater-finals
BANYANA Banyana wingback Lebohang Ramalepe is challenged by Aicha Samake of Mali during the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations match on Monday. | BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix WHEN Banyana Banyana scored four unanswered goals against Mali in their final Group C match of the Caf Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Monday, the world of football surely felt that the team that they have come to know had finally arrived in Morocco but coach Desiree Ellis was more impressed by veteran defender Lebogang Ramalepe. The 33-year-old went away with a Player of the match award after two assists and a goal in Oudja to send the defending champions to the quarter-finals against Senegal on Saturday. That match will also be played at 9pm after the match between Algeria and Ghana at 6pm. Ramalepe, one of the legends of Banyana and South African women's football with over 100 caps for the national team, has played all three group matches at wingback - a more forward role than her usual right back. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Ellis had nothing but praise for the player known affectionately as Rama in football circles. 'We've seen Rama at Mamelodi Sundowns play at wingback as well,' said Ellis. 'We're fortunate that she can play in that forward role because it is similar to when she is playing at fullback, (but this position) I think it just gives her more freedom to play further up the field and to create space and assist without shedding her defensive duties. 'It is the same with Karabo (Dhlamini) as well on that left side. You can see the combinations with Gabriel (Salgaldo) when she came on. It was good to see her (Ramalepe) get more minutes and to score.' Ramalepe's game trademark has always been her endurance, tactical intelligence and attacking instincts, which has over the years benefitted the likes of Ma-Indies, Sundowns and Banyana. After the game she was quoted by saying: 'The win for the team is something we worked so hard for. We knew it was not going to be an easy game. The three points really made things easy for us,' she said, before she reflected on he Player of the match award. 'It really showed that I did my best. It was also a collective effort. I would like to thank my teammates.' As they had to the knockout stages, Banyana will again be put under scrutiny as it happened with their last group outing, in which they needed a positive result after drawing 1-1 with Tanzania in their second match in Oudja. 'It's not going to be an easy game. It's a knockout stage and a matter of trying to stay composed,' reflected Ramalepe. '(We will have to) play our normal game and make sure we convert our chances — then we will be heading to the semifinals.'
Daily Maverick
21 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Banyana Banyana run riot against Mali at Wafcon, sending clear message to title rivals
It took a couple of matches for Banyana Banyana to display their ruthlessness at the ongoing Women's Africa Cup of Nations. A 4-0 win over Mali in their final group game has sent a clear message to South Africa's challengers in Morocco. Perhaps it was the criticism that they had not yet come to the party as the defending Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) champions. Maybe it was the frustration of being held to a 1-1 draw by Tanzania during their second match. Whatever triggered Banyana Banyana's 4-0 demolition of Mali in their final Wafcon group game, they have sent a clear message to their challengers at the continental showpiece: the champions are here and they will not easily relinquish their title — if at all. Stinging Banyana Much like a swarm of bees that has been provoked, the South Africans were all over Mali on Monday, 14 July. With both teams already qualified for the quarterfinals, the clash was to determine who would finish at the summit of Group C. In the end, it proved to be a non-contest as Banyana Banyana crushed the Malians to set up a quarterfinal tussle with Senegal. Two of South Africa's co-captains for Wafcon, midfielder Refiloe Jane and wing-back Lebohang Ramalepe, led the way in opening the floodgates at Oudja's Honneur Stadium. Mexico-based forward Hildah Magaia and starlet Ronnel Donnelly added gloss to the score with their second-half strikes. It was a satisfying result for Banyana Banyana, more so after their toiling against Tanzania and their workmanlike 2-0 win over Ghana in their opening Wafcon match. Against Mali, the South Africans were at their effervescent best as they struck down the previously high-flying Eagles, condemning the west Africans to a third-place finish. After the game, South Africa's coach, Desiree Ellis, said, 'We knew we were better than the first two games we played. We consistently work on what we need to improve — sometimes it doesn't happen overnight — but this game [against Mali] was a statement. A statement of intent and resilience, a statement of who we are. 'Everything [worked] … the movement off the ball, the quick passing, the rotations, the overloads… Plaudits should go to the technical team, they worked tirelessly on training [the team] even though we only had one training session before the Mali game. But we've consistently worked on getting better at certain things, and in this game we showed the quality we have.' Onwards and upwards With her team flexing its muscles at just the right time in the competition, four-time African women's coach of the year Ellis wants her players to build on the blistering performance they displayed against Mali. This is crucial, as either record Wafcon champions Nigeria (11 titles) or the formidable Zambia wait in the semifinals should the South Africans overcome Senegal. 'We need to use this [Mali win] to fuel ourselves and get even better. Because it does not matter the result, we're always looking for improvement,' said Ellis. 'We will keep working, not just on our finishing, but everything. Because there is no perfect game, there's always room for improvement. If we continue working, we'll get better at how we do it. 'Hopefully, we can take this Mali performance and push it up a notch in the knockout stages, because there are no second chances now — it's either you take your chances or you go home.' Wafcon quarterfinals One of the benefits of Banyana Banyana finishing first in Group C (with seven points to second-placed Ghana's four) is that they will remain at their original base for the tournament, the city of Oujda. Failure to win their group would have necessitated the South Africans relocating to Berkane, 60km from Oudja. Now the reigning African champions can enjoy the privilege of continuity as they prepare to take on Senegal. The quarterfinal clash takes place on Saturday, 19 July. Kickoff is at 9pm. The marquee fixture of the quarterfinals is definitely Friday's tussle between Nigeria and Zambia. Following their drubbing by Banyana Banyana, the Malians face another daunting opponent in the form of tournament host Morocco. The other quarterfinal is between the evenly matched Algeria and Ghana. DM
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
Ellis defends earlier choices as Banyana charge into quarters in style
Banyana Banyana put out a loud message in Morocco on Monday night, signalling they won't give up their Women's Africa Cup of Nations title without a fight. The South Africans reached the quarterfinals in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 thrashing of Mali in their final Group C match at Stade d'Honneur in Oujda, via goals by Lebohang Ramalepe (fifth minute), captain Refiloe Jane (32nd), Hildah Magaia (61st) and substitute Ronnel Donnelly (79th). They meet Senegal, who ended third in Group A, in Saturday's quarterfinal at Stade d'Honneur (9pm SA time). Banyana gain an advantage not just from the momentum provided by their big win against Mali and topping Group C with seven points, but also by remaining at the same venue where they played their round robin games. Senegal played two games in Mohammedia and one in Rabat. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis corrected the mistakes she made in the second match against Tanzania, where she made four changes that killed the rhythm of her team from a decent start with a 2-0 win against Ghana, resulting in a disappointing 1-1 draw. She responded to criticism of those decisions saying she does not 'need to justify' her choices.
