Banyana’s Ellis on World Cup chances – ‘It will be crucial how we plan’
'We play Madagascar in an Olympic qualifier in October, then obviously we have to look at how to strengthen the squad,' said the Banyana head coach.
Banyana Banyana head coach, Desiree Ellis, emphasized that planning will be vital as they aim to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. After a 2-1 victory over Nigeria, Banyana secured another World Cup opportunity, advancing to the inter-continental play-offs. The preliminary round of inter-continental qualifying will feature six teams, including Ghana, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Papua New Guinea, and Ecuador, each playing three matches in November and December.
The top two teams from this group will proceed to the final round of qualifying in February 2027, determining the final three nations that will attend the World Cup in Brazil. Ellis stressed that the planning aspect is crucial at this stage. She mentioned playing Madagascar in an Olympic qualifier in October and the need to strengthen the squad and address certain aspects of the team's performance.
Banyana's 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign was inconsistent, with a loss to Tanzania and a quarterfinal exit, but they secured a lifeline by defeating Nigeria. Ellis acknowledged the demanding period they have been through and highlighted that it's a good time to regroup. With the (Hollywood Bets Super) league already underway, October will mark the beginning of their journey to qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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