South Africa head coach, Desiree Ellis, has praised her players’ mental strength after they knocked out Senegal 4-1 on penalties.
The win grants South Africa a semi-final meeting with the Super Falcons of Nigeria at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Following a 0-0 draw after extra time on Saturday, Banyana Banyana held their nerve in the shootout, with goalkeeper Andile Dlamini pulling off key saves to send the reigning champions through.
It marked the first time South Africa has ever won a penalty shootout in WAFCON history, a moment Ellis described as unforgettable.
“I don’t have enough words to describe this team, the resilience, the courage, the never-say-die attitude, the willingness to fight for each other,” Ellis told Safa.net. “No matter what they threw at us, we were able to withstand that.”
Despite the win, Ellis was quick to acknowledge that the performance against Senegal was far from perfect. She pointed out some lapses her side must correct before facing nine-time champions Nigeria in the semi-finals.
“We dealt very well with their long ball, but sometimes we gave the ball away too cheaply,” she noted. “Senegal has improved from the last time we played them. The coach has done a fantastic job.”
Ellis revealed that the team had been preparing for a potential shootout, a decision that paid off when it mattered most.
“We have been practising penalties, and we knew who our kickers were going to be, and that’s why we made the changes we made,” she explained. “We always knew that Andile could save one or two – she had done it before.”
The match also carried emotional weight for Ellis personally, as she reflected on South Africa’s painful penalty losses in the 2006 and 2018 WAFCON finals.
“This was our first penalty shoot victory in the WAFCON,” she said. “We’ve been here before and fallen short, this time, the story is different.”
Asked about the semi-final showdown with Nigeria, Ellis remained focused on the immediate moment.
“We are not thinking about Nigeria right now,” she said. “We will think about the next match tomorrow. Let’s celebrate what we have done.”
South Africa have since shifted base from Oujda to Casablanca, where they will meet Nigeria at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Tuesday.
Note that the Super Falcons are fresh off a commanding 5-0 demolition of Zambia.
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