Desiree Ellis Praises Young Banyana Banyana after Namibia Stun Hosts to Claim Maiden COSAFA Title

Ellis said she also had an eye on the future while participating in the regional tournament. 

“I am very proud of the team, they were brave, they showed a lot of courage, they were stretched to the limits, and we have a bigger core group now because of this.”

Banyana Banyana Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis

“We have a couple of 16/17/18-year-olds in the team, not the experience they would have wanted, but I think that the medal will remind them to never get the same feeling. This was a worthwhile exercise, and we can now safely say there is a great future for South African women’s football,” said Ellis.

On a hot Polokwane afternoon, Banyana Banyana had made three changes to the team that defeated Zimbabwe in the semifinals, with Sibongakonke Mzobe, Bongiwe Thusi, and Bonolo Mokoma getting the nod ahead of Sibulele Holweni, Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado, and Isabella Ludwig.

The move seemed to pay dividends as Mokoma hit the crossbar with a thunderous shot early in the game before Nthabiseng Majiya put the home side ahead in the 38th minute, her second of the tournament.

The Brave Warriors returned rejuvenated from the break and restored parity shortly thereafter in the 54th minute through substitute Muhinatjo Hanavi with a long-range shot. Neither side was able to get a goal with the match going into extra time. 

It was Namibia who stunned the hosts in the first half of extra time with a goal that gave them the lead for the first time in the game, and they held on for a win, lifting their first-ever COSAFA Women’s Championship trophy.

“Goals win you matches, and I think throughout the game even before extra time we had enough chances to make sure that we win the game. I thought we conceded poorly, but as I said this is a young group.”

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“We played five games, obviously they (Namibia) looked a bit fresher towards the end of the game, they played four games,” added Ellis. “Winning a gold medal would have been fantastic but we fell short. We must also congratulate Namibia, they were resolute, they defended really well.”

South Africa had six different scorers in the tournament with Majiya grabbing two, while Mokoma, Moodaly-Salgado, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Thorisho Mphelo and Sibulele Holweni scored one each. Zambia clinched bronze when they defeated Zimbabwe 3-1 in the third and fourth place play-off.

South Africa’s COSAFA Women’s Championship Group A Fixtures and Results, at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo

Wed 18 February: Banyana Banyana 2-0 Malawi
Sat 21 February: Banyana Banyana 2-0 Angola
Tue 24 February: Banyana Banyana 1-1 Lesotho
Fri 27 February: Banyana Banyana (4)-1(2) Zimbabwe
Sun 1 March: Banyana Banyana 1-2 Namibia

Banyana Banyana Starting XI

1. Casey Gordon (GK)
2. Amogelang Maponya
3. Khutso Pila
4. Shakira O’Malley
5. Sinegugu Zondi
6. Lonathemba Mhlongo
7. Sbongakonke Mzobe
8. Nonhlanhla Mthandi (C)
9. Nthabiseng Majiya
10. Bongiwe Thusi
11. Bonolo Mokoma

Substitutes

Dineo Magagula (GK)
Sibulele Holweni
Gugu Dhlamini
Zoe October
Isabella Ludwig
Fiona Namanyana
Thorisho Mphelo
Unathi Simayile
Asanda Hadebe
Regina Mogolola
Sibahle Maneli
Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado

Original Copy: SAFA, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: Coach Dr Desiree Ellis praised her young Banyana Banyana side’s bravery following their 2-1 defeat to Namibia in the final of the 2025 COSAFA Women’s Championship, at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday, 1 March 2026. All Photos: COSAFA

Photo 2 Caption: Ellis emphasised that through their experiences this exercise has successfully expanded the national team’s core group.