Bayana dedicate victory to fans without light back home

Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has dedicated their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final 1-0 victory against Tunisia to the fans back home in South Africa.

Star striker Jermaine Seoposenwe was on song for the South Africans as she slotted home a 14th-minute strike that proved to be the all-important match winner.

The win also booked Banyana’s qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The victory was South Africa’s fourth on the trot at the tournament in Morocco, and each match comes with different challenges.

“Look, it is never about me; it is about the team first,” Ellis told reporters during the post-match press conference.

“As Jermaine (Seoposenwe) said, the squad we selected is versatile. Each and everyone fights for each other. The support staff is fantastic, so credit must go to all of them.

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“This victory is for everyone back home. The situation back home is not fantastic.

“There’s a lot of load shedding happening, people without electricity and some of them might not have seen the game.

“We receive so many messages wishing us well on social media on our WhatsApp and (we received) phone calls. This is for everyone back home. For the coaches and players that have come before.”

Banyana had to make do without star player Thembi Kgatlana, who tore her Achilles in their 1-0 victory against Botswana in the final Group C fixture.

Ellis reveals that the squad were a bit down by the Kgatlana’s injury heading into the match against Tunisia but showed “true grit” to overcome their mental difficulties.

“We got experienced players in our team. We’ve got new players in our team, and we’ve got some young players in our team. For many of these players in the group, they have never been to a World Cup,” said Ellis.