Latest news with #DesireeEllis
The Citizen
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ellis says Banyana won't underestimate Senegal
'They came out of a very difficult group, and it shows the quality that they have," says Ellis. Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis says the African champions will not underestimate Senegal when the two teams meet in a CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinal clash tonight. The clash takes place at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco this evening at 9pm (SA time). ALSO READ: 'Very crucial' for Banyana to win against Senegal 'They came out of a very difficult group, and it shows the quality that they have. The games that they played – except for the DR Congo match – were very tight, with just one goal in it. They do have the quality, we played them last year in June, but they've improved so much and if you look at where they are right now, we really have to be on top of our game,' Ellis told SAFA media. 'It's going to be a game of those small margins – the final and knockout games are never easy, so we really have to make sure that we are in charge and everything that we do, we do as best as we can. But keeping a clean sheet will also be of utmost importance,' she added. Banyana are 'favourites' Senegal coach Mousse Cisse says Banyana are the favourites going to this clash. 'South Africa are the favourites, they are the better team, and we are the challengers. A win will be good for Senegal because it will be the first time we win this round, but we will need confidence, not give in to pressure and show Senegalese football in this competition. We are also happy to be playing against top teams on the continent like Morocco, Zambia and now South Africa,' said Cisse. 'We had a difficult path with a lot of obstacles, but our first objective was to qualify, and we managed to do that. Our matches against Morocco and Zambia made us look at things differently and we have corrected our mistakes. Anything is possible when we face South Africa, but we will do our best.' The winner of this match will face off with the victors in the other quarterfinal clash between Nigeria and Zambia in the semifinals.
eNCA
a day ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Banyana eager to see off Senegal
JOHANNESBURG - Banyana Banyana are one match away from renewing their rivalry with Nigeria. The defending Women's Africa Cup of Nations champions take on Senegal in tonight's quarter-final tie. Coach Desiree Ellis believes not moving from Stade d'Honneur d'Oujda is crucial.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Who will triumph in the WAFCON quarterfinals?
It's down to the serious business of the WAFCON knockout stages this weekend. Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis is looking to guide her team to another WAFCON title. Picture: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix The Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco gets down to the serious business of the quarterfinals this weekend, with Banyana Banyana very much in the mix to defend their title. Desiree Ellis' side will take on Senegal on Saturday in the last quarterfinal at the Honneur Stadium in Oidja, coming into that match on a high after a 4-0 mauling of Mali in their last Group C match. Banyana in WAFCON form After a stuttering start to this WAFCON, that performance was more like the Banyana that won the WAFCON for the first time 2022, and went on to reach the last 16 of the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup. The Lionesses of Teranga are not the force that the Senegal men's team are in the continental game, and Banyana are clear favourites to progress from this last eight game. Betway's latest odds reflect this, with South Africa priced at 1.40. Senegal did reach the quarterfinals of the last WAFCON, losing to Tunisia on penalties, but are outsiders for this one, priced at 6.20, with a draw at 4.40. The West African side did score six goals in the group stages, and only lost narrowly to Zambia and Morocco. But Banyana should have too much skill and experience for them on Saturday. In Saturday's other quarterfinal, Algeria will host Ghana at the Berkane Stadium. Ghana gave Banyana serious problems in their opening Group C match, with South Africa slightly fortunate to emerge with a 2-0 win. They then drew with Mali and pummelled Tanzania 4-1 in their last group match to move into the quarterfinals as Group C runners-up. Algeria finished as runners-up in Group A, without conceding a goal but only scoring one. The odds for Algeria-Ghana are tight, with Ghana slight favourites at 2.24, a draw at 3.00 and Ghana Algeria at 3.10. In Friday's first quarterfinal, by far the continent's most successful side, Nigeria, take on Zambia. Zambia's attacking sensations Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji, already have three goals apiece in this WAFCON. Two clear favourites But Nigeria are still clear favourites, priced at 1.66, to Zambia's 4.90, with a draw at 3.40. In Friday's other quarterfinal, hosts Morocco take on Mali. Morocco are even clearer favourites than Nigeria for this one, priced at 1.27, with Mali the underdogs at 8.40 and a draw at 5.20. Please note that these Betway odds are correct at the time of writing and subject to change.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Banyana's quest for glory continues, Kolisi returns to lead Boks in Mbombela
Desiree Ellis Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says their quarterfinal clash against Senegal in the 2024 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday will pose a different kind of challenge The four games have been about blooding in newcomers and getting the squad up to speed with new ideas and innovations before the step up to the Rugby Championship later in the year, where Australia, New Zealand and Argentina await. At the Mbombela Stadium in the Lowveld, Siya Kolisi's men finish off a four-match sequence of matches when they host the rugged Georgians. After games against the Barbarians and Italy (twice), the Boks want to finish off with an emphatic performance before a month's break in their season. SOUTH African sports lovers can have their cake and eat it on tomorrow night, with a feast of action in the form of the Springboks, the Junior Springboks and Banyana Banyana all in action. After missing out on the first three matches of the season due to a couple of niggles, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi returns to the starting lineup against Georgia tomorrow in Mbombela. | BackpagePix It is an important game for captain Kolisi, who is playing his first Bok game of the year after missing the previous three games because of injury. Rassie Erasmus has picked a powerful lineup, including bruiser Eben Etzebeth, who at the same venue last year eclipsed Victor Matfield as the most capped Springbok. The Boks have never lost at the Mbombela Stadium, but Erasmus says they are taking nothing for granted. 'We know how passionate this Georgian side is. They will be determined to make a strong statement, so we selected some experienced players who we would like to see get more game time before the Rugby Championship. Georgia are a tough outfit and they pride themselves on their brute force.' The Boks kick off at 5.10pm, and the dew will barely have settled on the game when the Junior Boks face off against archrivals New Zealand in the final of the World Rugby U20 tournament in Rovigo, Italy. Kick-off is at 8.30pm. Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote summed up the mood: 'Every child in South Africa and New Zealand who has picked up a rugby ball dreams of this occasion. It's a special moment. A final between these two teams is fantastic for the game of rugby.' Meanwhile, Banyana will be doing their share of hoisting the South African flag as they take on Senegal at 9pm in the Caf Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) after they finished the group stages unbeaten, amassing a commendable seven points in an inspiring run that has reignited hopes for a successful title defence in Morocco. The South African women's national football team continued their stay in Oudja, a picturesque city on the Mediterranean coast, to face Senegal in what promises to be a highly competitive quarter-final clash. Having showcased their mettle in the group stage, the girls will be aware that their upcoming opponents are notably strong and physical. Senegal qualified as one of the two best third-placed teams, securing their last-eight spot amidst a blend of experienced talent and emerging young players. This combination is bound to present a more significant challenge than the previous match against Mali, during which Banyana Banyana showed impressive control and tactical organisation. Senegal's youthful squad, while energetic, has exhibited vulnerabilities in defence that Banyana Banyana will undoubtedly aim to exploit. Overcoming Senegal will not only require physicality but also strategic finesse, as the team prepares for what coach Desiree Ellis has labelled a "much tougher test." The squad's preparation will be crucial, ensuring that they maintain the resilience and flair that has carried them through the group stages. The upcoming match in Oudja is the last of the four quarter-finals, making it a standout event in the tournament calendar. Meanwhile, another team with a touch of the underdog spirit, Mali, has also made it through to the next round despite defeat in their last group stage match. They will face tournament hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals set to take place in Rabat on Friday, showcasing the competitive nature of this year's tournament. Banyana Banyana's supporters will be keenly following their team's progress, drawing hope from the team's impressive performances thus far. The goal now is clear: to advance in the tournament and continue to inspire a nation passionate about women's football.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Desiree Ellis not taking 'tough' Senegal lightly in Wafcon quarter-finals
AFTER opening her national-goal-account against Mali, Desiree Ellis expect Banyana Banyana striker Ronnel Donnelly to show hunger for more. | BackpagePix BANYANA Banyana's spirited performance against Mali in their final Group C match of the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Monday did more than send the defending champions to the quarter-finals but it also strengthened coach Desiree Ellis' confidence in her charges. Banyana will host free-scoring Senegal in Saturday's second quarter-final at Honneur Stadium in Oudja, where they played all their group matches. Even though Senegal finished third in Group A behind hosts Morocco and Banyana's southern African neighbours Zambia, Ellis feels the west Africans have done enough to show that they mean business. 'Senegal? They've shown in a very difficult group that they can toughen it up with the best. So things are once again not going to be easy (against them in the quarter-final),' said Ellis. 'I don't think any game has been easy at the Wafcon and that is evidence to the fact almost everyday in the continent you've got teams now playing. 'Malawi they are not even here (in Morocco) but they are busy preparing for the qualifiers elsewhere. 'We have to give it to the federations that have been giving the teams an opportunity,' Ellis added even though her side faced a long list of off field problems before even kicking a ball in Morocco.
