It was excitement all over at Banyana Banyana’s final training session at the FNB Stadium on Monday afternoon. Banyana will play in The Calabash for the first time ever when they face Mozambique in the return leg of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations Qualifier on Tuesday, 26 October 2021 (Kick-off 15:00).
The senior women’s team humbled their neighbours by 7 goals while keeping a clean-sheet in the first leg of the AWCON qualifiers, however, head Coach Desiree Ellis has insisted that they will not underestimate the opponent and there is still room for improvement.
Ellis’s side will be hoping to make a good impression in The Calabash as they set their eyes on the AWCON finals in Morocco scheduled to take place later in 2022.
It will also be a special game for the players who will get a chance to have family and friends present at the stadium to watch them for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak.
“We had a couple of good training sessions and I think the players are excited to be playing at the FNB Stadium,” said Desiree Ellis.
“As we have always said, we will not underestimate the opponent even though we won 7-0 away from home, there is still room for improvement.”
“We need to consistently keep improving in what we want to do; moving the ball around quicker, the movement of the ball and making sure we minimize our mistakes and keep a clean sheet,” added Ellis.
“We have played at world cup stadiums before when we were preparing for the world cup. We played at the Cape Town stadium and Moses Mabhida Stadium. We have also had a chance to play at the PSG stadium. “
“I don’t think the occasion will overwhelm the players too much, I think it will motivate them to go out there and put on a good show. “
“Everyone is looking forward to the game and there will be no excuses tomorrow and we just have to stay focused,” concluded Ellis.
Discussion about this post