WATCH: How Ellis guided Banyana to the COSAFA knockouts

Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has expressed her satisfaction after her side secured a spot in the COSAFA Women’s Championship semi-finals with a game to spare.

𝙀𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨 𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙖’𝙨 ‘𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣’ 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙖 𝙒𝙞𝙣

Desiree Ellis isn’t just looking for wins; she’s looking for perfection. Following a clinical 2-0 result against Angola at Seshego Stadium on Saturday, the Banyana mentor… pic.twitter.com/XHooLcN6HR

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) February 22, 2026

A clinical 2-0 victory over a robust Angola side at the Seshego Stadium outside Polokwane on Saturday ensured back-to-back wins for the hosts, allowing Ellis the luxury of further experimentation in their final Group A fixture against Lesotho.

While the scoreline suggests a comfortable outing, Ellis admitted that the African champions had to weather a difficult opening period. The Angolan side brought a physical presence that disrupted South Africa’s rhythm early on.

Ellis Reacts as Banyana Secure COSAFA Semi-Final Berth

IT WAS WAR OUT THERE…
Here’s some action from Sasol Banyana Banyana’s win over Angola in the 2025 COSAFA Women’s Championship at the Seshego Stadium in Polokwane#BanyanaBanyana#LiveTheImpossible@SasolinSport pic.twitter.com/9HvLFbztkL

— Sasol Banyana Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) February 22, 2026

“I think we struggled a bit in the first half,” Ellis reflected. “We tried to put our foot on the ball and play, but we had a lot of turnovers and struggled to find certain players in our build-up. We rectified that in the second half.”

The tactical adjustment paid dividends as Banyana’s intensity rose after the break. “We expected a lot of wing play from them, and I thought we managed that quite well. When we started playing, we looked really good,” she added.

With the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on the horizon, Ellis is using the COSAFA platform to blood the next generation of talent. The 62-year-old mentor emphasised that while the result is important, the integration of fresh faces remains a priority.

The coach confirmed that the rotation policy will continue at COSAFA, with more debuts expected in the upcoming clash against Lesotho.

“There’s one player who is yet to make her debut for the national team, so she will probably get game time in the next game as well. We want to look at as many players as possible,” Ellis confirmed.

Managing player fatigue is a key concern for the technical team, especially given that many squad members are playing their first full 90-minute matches in several months. Ellis noted that the guidance of “experienced campaigners” has been vital in keeping the young squad grounded while they navigate the high-pressure environment of tournament football.

“We are always looking for ways to improve performances whilst taking note of the fact that it is a new group of players and things don’t happen immediately,” the coach concluded.