As the countdown to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) gathers pace, South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis has named Zambia as one of the fast-rising forces in women’s football on the continent.
The WAFCON is scheduled to take place from July 5th to 26th in Morocco.
Defending champions South Africa have been drawn in Group C alongside Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania.
Ellis stated that the days of clear favorites are fading. She said that nations like Zambia continue to close the gap through their rapid development.
“The evolution of women’s football in Africa since I first took charge of Banyana Banyana has been nothing short of transformational,” Ellis told CAF Media. “Teams like Zambia, Morocco, and even Botswana have shown they’re no longer underdogs — they’re football teams with identity.”
Ellis credits the rise of these nations to the tactical exposure that players gain from playing in elite European and American leagues.
“More African players are playing in top international leagues — in Europe, the U.S., and beyond. This exposure has raised the standard and brought back knowledge and professionalism into their national teams.”
We want to defend WAFCON- Ellis
For South Africa, Ellis says the goal is clear — to successfully defend the WAFCON title they won in 2022.
“Maintaining consistency at the top level, especially in international football, is never accidental. We’ve invested heavily in continuity. We are always looking to refresh the squad, improve on past performances, and never waste a loss,” she explained.
“It will be an incredible achievement for the whole team, as the only country that has done it before has been Nigeria, which has won it multiple times.”
“It will be an incredible achievement for the whole team, as the only country that has done it before has been Nigeria, which has won it multiple times.”
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