Banyana coach admits WAFCON campaign did not go as planned

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has revealed that the team's performance in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 in Morocco did not align with their expectations. Despite being the defending champions, they were unable to advance past the group stage and fail to secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. As a consequence, the team will now compete in the intercontinental playoffs, which commence in November.

The majority of the squad returned to their home country yesterday, with Ellis, her coaching staff, and a few players being the last group to arrive back today. Ellis encourages the team to view the subsequent qualifying phase as a second opportunity, stating, "Yes, it didn’t happen, but we are still in it." The primary objective remains the same: to secure a spot in the World Cup.

In the upcoming qualifiers, two teams from each confederation will participate, excluding teams from the same confederation from facing each other. Ellis acknowledges that the intercontinental playoffs will not be an easy journey, stating, "Unfortunately it’s not the way we planned it; things sometimes don’t go according to how you plan them."

The team's previous matches, including against Morocco and Nigeria, were closely contested. Ellis emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation, stating that the draw for the playoffs will be announced on Thursday. The team must now strategize effectively to increase their chances of progressing through the qualifiers and ultimately reaching the World Cup.