Banyana Banyana to face DR Congo without coach Desiree Ellis and key players

Banyana Banyana will have to navigate uncharted territory without their key sources of inspiration when they face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first leg of the second and final round of the 2026 Fifa Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers on Wednesday afternoon.

The team assembled for camp on Sunday without head coach Desiree Ellis and four overseas-based players: Amogelang Motau, Thembi Kgatlana, Sinoxolo Cesane, and Hildah Magaia, all of whom play in Mexico.

The absence of Ellis is particularly notable. She is not with the team as she has yet to agree to terms with the South African Football Association (Safa) on a new contract. This is surprising, considering Safa had ample time to offer her a new deal. Ellis has been working on a month-to-month contract since her previous one expired after the Olympic Games.

Given that these qualifiers could make or break Banyana’s hopes for both WAFCON and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil—since semi-finalists at WAFCON will qualify—it was crucial for the team to have their head coach issuing instructions from the touchline from the outset.

That said, not all is lost. Assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli will take charge in Ellis’s absence. Mbuli is no stranger to the team; she has long been part of Ellis’s technical staff and has been involved in both their successes and challenges over the years.

She is expected to perform strongly, especially as she is widely tipped to succeed Ellis in the future. Mbuli knows the team inside out and is well-acquainted with the locally based players, given her role as head coach of the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

She also boasts strong credentials, having coached in the Hollywoodbets Super League and led the team to a COSAFA Cup victory, which secured qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Ideally, she would have started her tenure with Motau, Kgatlana, Cesane, and Magaia in the squad. However, this challenge could be an opportunity to strengthen both her leadership and the national team’s succession plan.

Banyana had a disappointing WAFCON campaign this year, surrendering their title and finishing fourth. It became clear that a significant overhaul was needed—starting, unfortunately, with Ellis.

Retired striker Jermaine Seoposenwe made bold claims after the tournament, alleging that Ellis failed to support the players during a standoff with Safa—something Seoposenwe described as unacceptable.

While Ellis ultimately reports to the association—and would continue to do so if she signs a new contract—she also has a duty to advocate for her players. After all, it's the players' performances on the pitch that define her success as a coach, not the backing of Safa.

There are also signs that some players may be nearing the end of their international careers. For example, Kgatlana withdrew from the last WAFCON for personal reasons, suggesting that she may soon retire from international duty.

Nevertheless, Banyana arrived in the DRC this week without several key figures. There’s no time for regret or self-pity—they need to secure a result and gain a strong advantage ahead of the second leg next week.