Ellis encouraged by Banyana display as Mbane earns 100th cap

With the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations rescheduled from March to July, Ellis is using the current international friendlies, including fixtures against Algeria and Japan, to evaluate combinations and strengthen squad depth ahead of the continental tournament.

After a tentative opening period and a few missed chances, Nthabiseng Majiya broke the deadlock in the 36th minute with a well-taken goal to give South Africa the lead.

Ellis says the team has been focusing on key tactical areas in camp, and she was pleased to see progress during the match at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.

"Look, it wasn't an easy game. We haven't played together as a team since last year. We had some players who played at COSAFA but not all of them, so it was very important to get some minutes under the belt," said Ellis

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"It was also important because many of these players, except for Linda and Hilda, haven't played any league football, and we neede to give them as many minutes as we could to get that synergy back, that energy back. We worked a lot on our final third entries. We had a lot - maybe the ball into the final third, maybe the run, maybe the finish - not taking the chances because we had a lot of chances that could've finished the game."

Banyana resumed the second half with the same lineup and showed greater attacking intent, creating additional scoring opportunities while remaining alert defensively as Algeria began to apply more pressure.

Ellis credited her technical team for their preparation, explaining that they had anticipated the opposition’s tactical adjustments after the break and were able to respond accordingly.

The two sides are set to meet again on Friday at the King Zwelithini Stadium, providing another opportunity for refinement. 

Ellis emphasised the importance of improving movement in the final third, increasing entries into the penalty area, and being more clinical in front of goal.

Stand-in captain Bambanani Mbane reached a significant milestone, becoming the 12th player in Banyana Banyana’s history to earn 100 senior international caps, joining an exclusive group of national team stalwarts. 

She made her debut in 2016 during a 3-0 victory over Botswana at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.

Ellis praised Mbane’s leadership and consistency, describing her as a dependable and highly professional player who continues to set standards within the squad.