Banyana Banyana: Desiree Ellis Reveals Three Major Reasons Several Players Missed Out On World Cup Play-Off Squad

Banyana Banyana: Desiree Ellis Reveals Three Major Reasons Several Players Missed Out On World Cup Play-Off Squad

Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis has opened up about the difficult decisions behind her latest squad selection, revealing that several players who were under consideration missed out on the final team because of examinations, injuries and passport complications.

The South African women’s national team is preparing for an important assignment as they continue their quest to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. However, assembling the strongest possible squad has not been straightforward for Ellis, who had to consider several challenges before settling on her final 23-player selection.

Speaking about the selection process, Ellis admitted that there were other players she wanted to include but circumstances beyond the technical team’s control made their participation impossible.

“There were other players that we were looking at. Due to exams, injuries and lack of valid passports, we had to omit them,” Ellis explained.

Her comments have highlighted some of the challenges facing the national team, particularly the administrative requirements involved in selecting players for international competitions. According to reports, players travelling to the tournament must have passports with at least six months’ validity.

Meanwhile, injuries and academic commitments also complicated the selection process, forcing the technical team to explore alternative options.

Despite these setbacks, Ellis believes she has assembled a balanced squad capable of competing against the opposition in Morocco.

One of the notable developments in the squad is the return of Denmark-based midfielder Sibulele Holweni, who earns a national team call-up following her move to Europe last month. Her inclusion adds another option to the midfield department as Banyana prepare for the demanding tournament.

South Africa will compete in the preliminary play-off tournament against Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan. The competition will take place at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, Morocco, from November 28 to December 5, 2026.

Banyana will begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei on November 28 before facing Ecuador on December 1. Their final group fixture will be against Uzbekistan on December 5.

However, Ellis will have to manage an important absence in the opening encounter, with captain Refiloe Jane unavailable due to suspension after accumulating two yellow cards during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations play-off clash against Nigeria in August.

The stakes are particularly high because only the top two nations from the preliminary tournament will advance to the final qualifying phase scheduled for February 2027.

For Ellis, securing a positive result in the opening match will be crucial to building momentum and keeping South Africa’s World Cup ambitions alive.

Banyana Banyana will assemble for camp on November 18 before travelling to Morocco the following day.

With the tournament approaching, Ellis and her technical team will be hoping their selected players can deliver when it matters most and take South Africa another step closer to securing a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

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