South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis has broken down how her side managed to overcome Ghana's Black Queens in their Group C opener at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Banyana Banyana secured a 2-0 win at the Stade Honneur to kick off their title defence on a strong note, but Ellis admitted the result didn't come easy.
Speaking after the match, Ellis revealed that Ghana posed an early threat and the momentum could have shifted if her team had conceded in the opening stages. "The first 15 minutes could have changed the game if we had conceded," Ellis said. "But we stuck in and around, took control, and got the results that we wanted." She also praised the Black Queens for their resilience, calling them a quality side that made the encounter difficult. "Take nothing away from Ghana, they are still a quality side," she added.
South Africa will now prepare for their next Group C match against Tanzania on Friday, July 11, as they look to secure qualification to the knockout stages.
