Desiree Ellis views WAFCON postponement as blessing in disguise

The continental tournament, originally scheduled for March and April, was moved to July and August at the 11th hour by the Confederation of African Football.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Ellis says the delay provides an opportunity to assess players who are still working towards peak condition, while also allowing others to gain crucial game time ahead of the competition.

"The players, I'm sure, were disappointed because a lot of them probably didn't have proper festive seasons, they were busy training and trying to get into shape," said Ellis.

"But now it gives them an opportunity to be in even better shape than what they were – they get more game-time, which we didn't have, and that was a big concern.

"Some players were at different stages of their pre-season, and that's why we changed the players in the matchday squads at COSAFA, just to manage the load to make sure that we don't push them too hard and they break down at WAFCON.

READ: Ellis on the importance of squad balance ahead of Algeria friendlies

"But now it's an opportunity to play more games, we will organise four international friendlies, maybe a fifth one, which we would not have had before WAFCON.

"The League would be starting and we would have a look at players, those coming back from injury, those changing clubs and going to different environments – sometimes it happens immediately that they just step up, or sometimes it takes a bit longer.

"So, in a way, we're disappointed, but in another way it's a blessing in disguise for us that players will get more game time because the match fitness would have been a huge concern. 

"And going into a World Cup qualifying tournament, you don't need to motivate anyone, who doesn't want to go to the World Cup? Or who doesn't want to go back to the World Cup? I think that's motivation enough for the players."