South Africa head coach Désirée Ellis has set her sights firmly on making history as Banyana Banyana prepare to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown in Morocco from 5 July.
Following their maiden triumph in 2022, South Africa now face the challenge of retaining the title — a feat only achieved by Nigeria in the tournament’s history.
For Ellis, who captained the side during her playing days, a second consecutive title would represent more than just sporting success.
“The only country to have successfully defended the Women’s AFCON multiple times is Nigeria. In recent years, Banyana has proven that it can defy the odds. Winning the title twice in a row would be a major achievement, among everything we have achieved in the last two years. It would inspire an entire nation, attract more sponsors and open more doors for players to join foreign clubs,” Ellis told CAF Online.
Grouped alongside Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania in Group C, South Africa face a tough path to the knockout stages. While expectations are high, Ellis is under no illusions about the scale of the task.
“Our preparations are intentional and focused. We’re not approaching this title defense as a rehearsal, but as a team that wants to reach the next level,” she explained. “We’re working on building depth in all positions because versatility is key. We’re fine-tuning our tactics, ensuring we’re solid defensively in set pieces, and we’re also working on game management.”
Despite their status as reigning champions, Ellis is keen to guard against complacency, warning that past success is no guarantee of future triumphs.
“Success doesn’t guarantee us anything this time; it can make a team complacent. We’re hyper-focused,” she added.
Ellis’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming Banyana Banyana into one of the continent’s most consistent sides, with their recent performances earning global recognition and opening pathways for players to move abroad.
As the tournament approaches, South Africa will be looking not just to win matches, but to continue writing a legacy that extends beyond silverware.
With Ellis at the helm, the vision remains clear — defend the crown, inspire a generation, and cement Banyana Banyana’s place among the greats of African women’s football.
