Ellis eyes second round as Banyana gear up for Tanzania clash

Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis did not mince her words ahead of Friday's crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) group stage clash against Tanzania at the Oujda Stadium in Morocco.

The defending champions are looking to secure maximum points and book their place in the knockout stages.

“Obviously, we want to get a win to cement our place in the second round. The last group stage match will determine who goes top, but we have seen in the matches over the last couple of days that there are no easy games,” said Ellis.

“Yes, we have played Tanzania before, but that goes out of the window, it means nothing. We also know that they need to win to stay in the competition, so we need to make sure that we do not concede.”

Ellis highlighted the importance of being clinical in front of goal, something her side lacked in their opener against Ghana.

“We are going to create opportunities and when we take those opportunities, we need to be a lot more effective in the attacking third. When we are there, we need to take our chances. We had a couple of chances against Ghana that could have sealed the game, but we couldn't convert.”

“We are aware of what they (Tanzania) will offer, but we just have to execute our plan and make sure it comes to the fore — that’s the most important thing. Yes, we analyse them like they are going to analyse us, but we concentrate on what we need to do to make sure we get things right,” she added.

TOUGH CHALLENGE

Tanzania will be heading into this fixture after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mali in their opening match, a result that leaves them desperate to collect points.

Banyana co-captain Lebogang Ramalepe, who brings invaluable experience to the squad, believes that Tanzania will present a tough challenge, especially given what’s at stake.

“To be honest, it’s going to be a tough one. We have played them before. What Tanzania need in this competition is a win to keep them in the run to get out of the group stage,” said Ramalepe.

“But I think as a team, we just need to stick to our game plan and make sure we do our best because it will be challenging. I know Tanzania well — I have played against half of their team while playing for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies during the Champions League. So, it is going to be a tough one.”

“Honestly, we know each other. It’s like we are friends, but we are not friends so it’s just a matter of staying focused and doing what we do best,” she concluded.