'We need more time' – Desiree Ellis lays out Banyana Banyana's Fifa World Cup roadmap

Desiree Ellis, the coach of South Africa's women's national football team - Banyana Banyana, expressed a need for additional time to prepare for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs. This sentiment was evident at the team's post-match press conference at Prince Moulay Rachid Stadium, following their progression to the play-offs after defeating arch-rival Nigeria.

Ellis also sought to quell recent criticism of the team's performance in the Wafcon tournaments, which saw them eliminated in the quarter-finals.

She explained that the team would benefit from a break to regroup and prepare for the upcoming challenges. Ellis highlighted that the team's focus is not just on the October qualifier, but also a match against Madagascar in the Olympic qualifiers. Additionally, they have to focus on strengthening the squad and refining their skills. Ronnel Donnelly, a young player who made her debut after recovering from an injury, is expected to continue to develop her skills in the coming months.

Ellis stressed the importance of ample preparation time, noting that their recent late arrival in camp, lack of team cohesion, and extensive travel impacted their performance in the Wafcon. She emphasized that they need to work diligently and thoroughly to ensure they are fully prepared for the play-offs and other critical matches or tournaments. The South African team will face Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, and Papua New Guinea for the remaining spots in the final round of intercontinental play-offs.