Banyana Banyana scored a comfortable 4-0 win over Mali to wrap up their group stage at the Women’s African Cup of Nations on Monday. The defending champions kept their title defense on track in Morocco with a much-improved performance compared to their second outing in the group, needing a late leveler to force a 1-1 draw with Tanzania on Matchday 2.
While there were worries about that disjointed performance potentially creeping into the Mali encounter, Desiree Ellis’ side produced a pretty well-rounded performance that will have sounded like a warning shot to the rest of the WAFCON contenders.
South Africa seal knockout spot as Group C winners
The African queens kicked off their campaign with a straightforward 2-0 win over Ghana in Oujda where they would have hoped to lay down a marker for the rest of the tournament. Ellis’ team controlled the possession and tempo of that clash with the exception of a period late on in the second half – something the Banyana coach accredited to the testing Moroccan conditions. Ellis and her coaching staff expected performance levels to dip in patches during the tournament due to the heat and that proved true before the final whistle in the opener.
Matchday 2 was a true test of Banyana’s resolve after being dominant and in control but it was them who had fallen behind. Ellis’ side turned up the intensity and instead of looking rushed to find the equalizer, if anything, they looked more assured of themselves as they persisted and drew level with 20 minutes to play. The South African pressure weighed on the Tanzania backline and despite being reduced to 10-players, Tanzania escaped with a point.
Perhaps that feeling of missing out on all three points fueled the Banyana camp heading into Matchday 3 with Ellis’ side ending as convincing winners and deserving Group C winners.
Not being considered as contenders suits Banyana
Heading into the tournament as defending champions almost certainly means you’re a marked team or at least seen as one of the favourites in most cases but remarkably Banyana were overlooked as contenders heading into WAFCON. Something that seems absurd to say out loud, considering the success Desiree Ellis and her side have made since lifting the title in 2022.
Their memorable run to the knockout stages of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 earned them plaudits as well as admirers worldwide. South African players received more exposure to the highest levels of the women’s game in the years that followed – increasing the standard and depth of players at Ellis’ disposal. It benefits the reigning champions to be overlooked as contenders because that eases the external pressures and expectations but it allows Ellis and her side the opportunity to meet and match their own expectations as defending champions.
Why Banyana should be in conversation of contenders
Only four teams have managed to amass seven points in the group stage, one of those teams are Banyana Banyana. Morocco, finished as Group A winners due to a superior goal difference over Zambia in second place – both teams finished unbeaten on seven- points. Group B winners, Nigeria, also topped their group with a total of seven points and an unbeaten record while South Africa were the only Group C team who didn’t taste defeat. It’s also worth noting that Banyana are one of five teams who remain undefeated heading into the knockouts.
What awaits the African champions in the knockout phase?
Banyana find themselves in familiar territory – the knockout stage of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Waiting for Desiree Ellis’ African champions is a stern, stubborn assignment in the form of Senegal who finished as one of the best third-placed teams. South Africa’s will face off against the Lionesses of Teranga in the quarter-finals at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda where they hope to continue their WAFCON title defense.
