Banyana Banyana pleased to end 2025 on positive note

Banyana secured two late goals from midfielders Nonhlanhla Mthandi and Noxolo Cesane to record a 2-0 victory against the Atlas Lionesses at Adrar Stadium in Agadir. 

Ellis told the media after the match she is glad they managed to finish 2025 on a good note and hopes to maintain the winning momentum in the new year. 

"It's a big confidence booster to end the year off on a good note – we did say we wanted to do that, having qualified for WAFCON and getting this win against the hosts is good momentum for us," said Ellis.

"We're going into the off-season now with a lot of confidence and we know what to expect coming back, because this loss will really force them to step up.

"Because with the WAFCON having increased to 16 teams is going to be a tough competition, a World Cup qualifying competition and we've got to be better than we were today."

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Ellis afforded the likes of Bonolo Mokoma, Jessica Wade and Bongiwe Thusi an opportunity to experience international football against a competitive opponent and offered insight into her decisions. 

"We select players on what we see and what value we think they can add, and then it's up to them – I thought Jess came in early and gave a really good performance," she explained.

"Bonolo, we know what she can do and we saw her performance against DR Congo; Nthabi [Majiya] got a start today, and I thought Nox [Cesane] was really good as well, but defensively – and I'm not just talking about the defenders – we were really sound.

"We were always going to create a chance or two, and I thought Karabo [Dhlamini] had an earlier chance, getting it on target, but Nox took her goal so well – if you don't shoot, you don't score, so I thought it was a great performance [overall]."