Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis
Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis says they are ready to tackle Nigeria in the semifinals of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 on Tuesday (22 July 2025) at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.
Kick-off is at 18h00 SA time (17h00 local time in Morocco). The clash between the South African senior women’s national team and the Super Falcons of Nigeria is a much-anticipated clash with both nations pursuing the trophy for different reasons.
The African Champions want to successfully defend their title – becoming the first country after Nigeria to do so, while the West Africans are on Mission X – they have won a record nine titles and are gunning for the 10th trophy.
“Nigeria is a familiar team that we’ve played against over the last couple of years. We travelled yesterday and today, and we will have our final training session and there’s not much you can do in one day. But there are a few things that you can tweak, and a few things that you can work on. The technical team has been really busy behind the scenes and leaving no stone unturned, so I think you don’t need motivation for a semifinal, and we are ready for the game,” said Dr Ellis.
The four-time CAF Woman Coach of the Year believes that their previous meetings with Nigeria will not mean much as the stakes are now higher.
“I don’t think it means a lot, it does mean, however, that we know we can get over the line, but I think past results don’t really mean anything because it’s a different tournament and it’s three years down the line. Also, it’s a different coach and some new players, but it’s the same Nigeria and they have the quality. We have to be on top of our game to make sure we get over the hurdle. They are the only country that has defended back-to-back on numerous occasions, and it would be big for our country,” added Dr Ellis.
The two teams travelled different paths to the last four, with Nigeria winning all their four games, with the quarterfinal being a complete runover against Zambia. The Super Falcons are yet to concede.
Banyana Banyana drew one match and won three – with the last one decided on penalties against Senegal.
South Africa’s Gabriela Salgado, who made her debut in this tournament and scored against the Lionesses of Teranga, says they are up for the challenge.
“We know we’re going into the semifinal game, it’s going to be a challenge, but we are physically and mentally prepared. We know the responsibility we hold, and we just look forward to a good game and hopefully finishing it within the 90 minutes,” said Salgado.
“Every game that we play we take our lessons, and we obviously take it into the next game and improving what we learned from that game. Just going into this game, I think the Senegal game of course brought us together as a team, we saw the desire, the hunger in each other’s eyes and it brought us just closer together knowing how we’ll need each other going into the next game. I think the team is prepared, we’re ready, we know what we have to do, and I think everyone is just on the same page and we are excited for the game.”
The last meeting between the two women’s football giants was in 2022 in the group stages of same tournament with South Africa winning 2-1, courtesy of goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hilda Magaia. Banyana Banyana went on to win the continental title.
The winner of this semi-final clash between Banyana Banyana and the Super Falcons will face off with the last team standing in the other last four fixture between hosts Morocco and Ghana.
