Latest news with #Sithole-like
The Citizen
26-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
No complaints from Ellis in Banyana defeat to Ghana
Banyana finished the tournament in fourth place after the loss to Ghana. Coach Desiree Ellis gave an honest assessment to Banyana Banyana's surprise loss to Ghana. This after Banyana went down 4-3 on penalties to the Black Queens in a CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) third-place play-off match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Friday night. ALSO READ: Ghana end Banyana's dream of winning a medal at WAFCON The game had to be decided on penalties after the teams were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. 'We started very slowly, got into the game and got a goal when we pressed. But they came out guns blazing for most of the second half, especially that first 15 minutes. We couldn't get our foot on the ball to slow the game down, and to take control. They were just better than us in the second half and eventually going to penalties, we always knew that we had a chance. Unfortunately, we didn't win the penalty shootout this time around, so congratulations to Ghana. We live on, and we'll then start preparing for what's forward,' Ellis told SAFA media. 'I think some of the games took a lot out of us, but we always knew either getting to the final or getting to the third and 4th place playoff we still had another game. We had five substitutes really because we've also picked up some injuries along the way, but that's not an excuse. We just have to pick ourselves up, these things happen in football – you've got to give credit to the opponents, in most situations they were better than us and I not going to sugar-coat that, you've got to give credit where it's due,' added Ellis. Banyana to 'dust' themselves and move on Following their failure to defend their WAFCON title, Ellis says there is no time to cry over spilled milk. 'We dust ourselves off and move on. We can't look back too much, yes it wasn't a great campaign, but we got into the semifinals and came very close to getting to the final, so we'll just move on. Like every team that comes to a tournament, we had ambitions of winning it, but we didn't get there. Unfortunately, we didn't do well today,' commented Ellis. ALSO READ: Ngwenya sees Sithole-like recovery for injured Banyana star In the six matches that Banyana played in the WAFCON, they managed two wins in open play – defeating Ghana (2-0) and Mali (4-0). They drew against Tanzania (1-1), beat Senegal on penalties in the quarterfinals before going down 1-2 to Nigeria in the semi-finals.
The Citizen
25-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Seoposenwe eyes one last hurrah in Banyana shirt
Banyana face Ghana in the third-place playoff at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca tonight Jermaine Seoposenwe believes it will be important for Banyana Banyana forward to return home with a medal after their failure to defend the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title. Banyana failed to defend the trophy they won in 2022 after they lost 2-1 to Nigeria in the semi-finals on Tuesday. ALSO READ: Banyana still have a lot to play for at WAFCON, says Ellis They will now face Ghana in the third-place playoff at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca tonight (kickoff is at 9pm SA time). 'Playing in the third and fourth place is disappointing to say the least, but I think as professionals we definitely just have to step up and take the responsibility of what this match brings. At the end of the day, we as African champions believe that going home with the bronze medal would still be somewhat of a consolation. But I think the team is still motivated, and we have to accept where we are as a group and still go out there and fight in our last match in this tournament,' said Seoposenwe. 'The team will be ready' 'I think just to do so will reconcile for what has happened and not making it to the final or not retaining our title, a bronze medal would suffice at the moment, there's nothing else we can play for. But I believe that the team will be ready, and the team will be focused and just still continuing to play for pride. At the end of the day, we are African champions, and we have to continue to do well, continue to develop, continue to go out there and show up for the young players with us in this tournament. And it's going to be important for us to show them that there is still that resilience, still that fight, still that belief and hopefully we can go home with the medal.' Last Banyana hooray for Seoposenwe South Africa beat Ghana 2-0 when the sides met in the group stages of the competition, but Seoposenwe has warned her teammates that the Black Queens cannot be taken lightly in this encounter. ALSO READ: Ngwenya sees Sithole-like recovery for injured Banyana star 'We played Ghana in the group stages and obviously it's difficult to go and play them again, but I think as a group we are confident in our abilities and what we are capable of doing. So I think the mental aspect of going and playing third and fourth playoff is difficult, but I think as a team we will regroup. Hopefully we can achieve what we might not have set up for but try and get that third-place medal,' said Seoposenwe who will be playing her last match in a Banyana Banyana shirt. The forward announced her retirement from the national team shortly before the start of the tournament.
