South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis has expressed full confidence ahead of her side’s highly anticipated semi-final showdown against Nigeria at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Footynaija.com reports.
Banyana Banyana face the Super Falcons in what many are calling the biggest fixture of the tournament so far. With both sides unbeaten and carrying strong form into the last four, the match is being billed as a battle of champions — the current holders versus the record winners.
Nigeria have dominated the tournament statistically, boasting the best attack with nine goals and the tightest defence with zero goals conceded. But for Ellis, numbers mean little when memories of past victories are still fresh.
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“There’s a fire, a collective memory. We know what this match means. We know what it takes to beat Nigeria,” the South African coach said confidently, per CAF online, referring to their famous 2–1 win over Nigeria in 2022, which set the tone for their title-winning run that year.
South Africa’s route to the semi-final has tested their nerve. They were held to a goalless draw by Senegal in the quarter-finals before edging the West Africans 4–1 on penalties. Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini produced some key saves in the shootout, underlining the resilience that Ellis’s side has shown throughout the competition.
Though Nigeria have been more ruthless in front of goal — including a 5–0 demolition of Zambia in their quarter-final — South Africa bring belief, discipline, and history into the tie.
Ellis, a four-time CAF Women’s Coach of the Year, has built her team around structure and spirit, with unity off the pitch translating into results on it.
The semi-final is now set up as a rematch laced with rivalry, with Ellis aiming to outwit a Nigeria side that has yet to be tested defensively.
