Banyana Banyana went down by 2-1 to Tanzania in their opening 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) opening match of Group B at the Moulay Rachid Stadium, Morocco on Monday, 27 July.
South Africa’s coach Desiree Ellis says her team were not good enough at both ends of the pitch during their 2-1 defeat to Tanzania in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations group stage. Ellis said Banyana Banyana were wasteful in front of goal, adding that they could also do better defensively.
“Goals win games, we knew what Tanzania was going to do, but the two goals we conceded were poor. They had two chances and they scored them and won the game. I said before the match that it was going to be a very difficult match, but we also made life difficult for ourselves,” said Dr Ellis.
“I felt that all three games were going to be difficult, but a good start would have given us the momentum and now the next match becomes a final before the final, it’s a must-win, and also the game after that. We still have it in us, it wasn’t a good day at the office, we can be better than that. We cannot drop any more points and with only two teams progressing to the next round, we have to put our best foot forward. We knew that we had it in us to get positive results, and for that we are disappointed.
“Linda came into the team back in 2015 and has been in the team ever since. She is someone you can rely on, very creative, very good on the ball and she deserves it. Hopefully she can go further and clock another 50. She has been a tremendous and an ultimate professional and has carried herself well. I just want to say congratulations to her, and her family can be proud of how much she has given to the game,” she added.
