Desiree Ellis reveals tough choices behind Banyana Banyana World Cup play-off squad

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says selecting her final 23-player squad for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-offs in Morocco proved particularly difficult, with injuries and travel-document problems affecting her decisions.

Ellis said a large number of players had made a strong case for inclusion, while five members of the squad had returned to the national team. She expects the players to approach the tournament with a competitive attitude and focus fully on their opening match.

“It was very difficult because a lot of players had raised their hands, and I needed to select from a different group of players. If you look at the squad that we have announced, there are five players who have come back. You know it’s our World Cup tournament – you cannot think of anything further than this one and, of course, the first game, and it’s never selecting. It has become more and more difficult,” Ellis told SABC Sport.

The coach has also selected several overseas-based players, whose experience at international clubs will add to the squad.

Among them are strikers Hilda Magaia, who plays for Al-Ittihad WFC, and Thembi Kgatlana of Tigres UANL. Nordsjaelland are represented by Sibulele Holweni and Bongeka Gamede.

Ellis said she maintains regular contact with players based abroad and tracks their performances and physical condition through their clubs.

“I have conversations with them. I think I speak a lot with Thembi [Kgatlana] because she’s scoring almost every week. I’ve had conversations with Bongeka [Gamede] as well as Amo [Amogelang Motau] and Linda [Motlhalo] in Glasgow. I actually met Linda’s strength and conditioning coach – she was there this week as part of the multidisciplinary team that FIFA brought, so I actually met her.

“It’s a follow-up on what they do. We look at their games; we speak to their conditioning coaches. Well, not me directly, but our conditioning coaches stay in contact with them to be able to get what they’re doing, so when they come in, we know where they are at.”

The 63-year-old also expressed concern about the current standard of football in the local league, saying the intensity is not yet at the required level.

Despite those concerns, Ellis said she was encouraged by the determination shown by domestic-based players. She believes they continue to compete strongly for national-team selection, even while dealing with the challenges within the local game.

The play-offs in Morocco represent Banyana Banyana’s immediate focus, with Ellis insisting that the squad must concentrate on the tournament and its first match rather than looking beyond it.