Banyana coach Desiree Ellis confident of securing AWCON 2022 title

Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis says she is confident that her side can bring the African Woman’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) title to South Africa in 2022.

Ellis’ guided the women’s senior national team to Fifa Women’s World Cup qualification at the last time of asking, as they finished as runners-up at the last AWCON tournament in Ghana in 2018.

How Banyana Banyana can go all the way

In the months since making their maiden world cup appearance, many members of the Banyana squad have secured professional contracts overseas.

Ellis believes this bodes well for the next continental showpiece.

“The players have been fantastic with their individual work behind the scenes and through their efforts are now taking the next step on their new journeys,” she told the official Safa website. “The experiences they will now bring to Banyana Banyana will be immense and hopefully, this will help raise the levels in the team to greater heights. I remember going to the 2016 AWCON in Cameroon and facing the likes of Cameroon and Nigeria who had about 80% of their squad playing abroad and you could see the experience in their teams during certain situations. We are now possibly in a position to also bring similar experiences to Banyana Banyana.”

Desiree Ellis, Banyana Banyana coach

With the number of participants in the next AWCON tournament now increased, Ellis admitted that it would be a bit more difficult to succeed, but is confident that Banyana can go all the way.

“The format will obviously change and that will make it even tougher, but it will take similar planning and focus to first qualify and then to put in a better effort to win it in 2022 which by the way also doubles up as a 2023 World Cup qualifying tournament. So yes we can definitely win it.”

Desiree Ellis, Banyana Banyana coach

Heavy SA presence in Europe 

The latest South African players to secure moves overseas are Rhoda Mulaudzi and Lebogang Ramaplepe, who joined FC Dinamo Minsk in the Belarusian Premier League.

They join the likes of captain Janine van Wyk – who recently signed for Glasgow City in Scotland – and star forwards, Jermaine Seoposenwe and Thembi Kgatlana in the books of Sporting Braga and SD Eibar respectively.

Others to have joined clubs in Europe include striker Amanda Mthandi, who signed for Bajados in Spain, as well as new KFF Mitrovica FC signees, Zanele Nhlapo and Andisiwe Mgcoyi.