Desiree Ellis Expected to Step Down as Banyana Banyana Coach After WAFCON Exit
- Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is reportedly set to step down following the team’s WAFCON exit
- Her future came under scrutiny after South Africa failed to defend their continental crown
- Simphiwe Dludlu is being mentioned as a strong candidate to take over the reins
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis is reportedly set to step down following the team’s disappointing exit at the 2024 WAFCON tournament. According to Sunday World, Ellis is expected to resign upon her return to South Africa on Wednesday.
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South Africa’s women’s team failed to defend their continental crown, finishing fourth after a narrow 4-3 loss to Ghana in the third-place playoff on Friday night. Ellis’s future came under scrutiny as fans and critics questioned her leadership following the team’s underwhelming performance.
What did Ellis say about her future?
In the wake of the tournament, Ellis shared her thoughts on the uncertain future.
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“Look, all I'm looking forward to is the game tomorrow. Obviously, when we get back home, I’ll take a little bit of a break, and we’ll sit down and then see the way forward from there,” she said.
Ellis reflected on the tournament’s challenges, noting,
“Nigeria has been the only team to successfully defend the title, though not always consistently. Equatorial Guinea also won it twice. As for us, we came very close but couldn’t quite get there. I think that match against Nigeria took a lot out of the players. We knew we’d be playing in the third-place playoff, but unfortunately, we didn’t perform well today.”
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Despite the setback, Ellis remains confident in the rebuilding process. She emphasised that Banyana Banyana is in a transitional phase, saying,
“Fans don’t always see the bigger picture. We trust the process, but fans want immediate results. They don’t always see the work being done or how the team is evolving.”
Looking ahead, Ellis reaffirmed the team’s commitment to growth, especially with the next WAFCON serving as qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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“In 2019, we qualified for the World Cup, but then lost to Botswana in the next round of qualifiers. We took that loss, learned from it, and built on it. We went to the Aisha Buhari Cup, WAFCON, and then another World Cup. It’s a long-term journey, and we believe in it. I know some people are calling for my head,” Ellis concluded.
Source: Getty Images
Who could replace Ellis?
As calls for new leadership grow louder, former Under-17 women’s team head coach Simphiwe Dludlu has emerged as a leading candidate to take over. Dludlu is a former Banyana Banyana captain who earned 63 caps between 2009 and 2010 and played for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
How much Banyana Banyana earned at WAFCON
Briefly News previously reported that despite missing out on a podium finish, Banyana Banyana earned a significant financial reward after finishing fourth at WAFCON 2024 in Morocco.
While the team fell short of expectations, they did not return empty-handed.
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Source: Briefly News
