Banyana Banyana coach Disari Ellis calls for focus before WAFCON application

Following unsatisfactory performances during tours in England and Ireland, the Indian team is preparing to start a new phase with a three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe. The first match is scheduled for July 23rd in Harare. Before the game, captain Shreyas Iyer gave the players clear instructions not to step onto the field under the pressure of the fear of defeat, but to freely display their playing style.

Philosophy of playing without fear

During the press conference, Iyer emphasized that the players should not be afraid of losing. In his opinion, when athletes start thinking about defeat, they play trying to protect themselves and cannot show their natural game. He noted that the absence of such fear allows for achieving the best results.

Captain's advice to the team

Furthermore, he advised the players to ignore discussions and criticism happening outside the dressing room. Iyer insisted that the team should focus exclusively on the present moment and give all their effort on the field.

Pressure after previous tours

The Indian team failed to win a single match in the non-summer competitions during the recent tour. First, Ireland defeated India 2-0 in a two-match T20 series. Then, England won the five-match T20 series 4-0. These consecutive defeats increased the pressure on captain Shreyas Iyer.

Lessons from defeats

Nevertheless, Iyer believes that the team has learned many lessons from this difficult period. He stated that these losses helped the players realize their weaknesses, and now they will have the opportunity to improve these aspects.

First experience in Zimbabwe

This is Shreyas Iyer's first visit to Zimbabwe. He admitted that it is very important to quickly adapt to the conditions in Harare. In his view, the team that can quickly adjust to the circumstances will gain an advantage in the series.

Results as captain and player

As a captain, Shreyas Iyer has not yet achieved success in terms of victories, as India did not win a single match under his leadership in the tours of Ireland and England. However, his personal batting performance remained consistently high. In the last two T20 series, he scored 231 runs in seven matches with an average of 38.5 and a strike rate of 152, including two half-centuries. Now his goal in the matches against Zimbabwe is to achieve his first victory as captain.

The Banyana Banyana team is actively preparing for its return to the Wafcon tournament with the goal of winning the continental trophy, which they won in Morocco in 2022.

Goals for the upcoming tournament

Before the start of Wafcon 2026 in Morocco, the team has a clear objective: to secure a spot in the top four of the competition to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, which will be held in Brazil. However, coach Disari Ellis admits that achieving this goal will not be easy.

Previous experience and pressure

Banyana Banyana will return to Morocco at the end of this month, striving to make up for lost time. In the previous tournament, the team showed a disappointing result, losing the title to their fierce rivals from Nigeria and finishing fourth overall. This result cast doubt on Ellis's future, especially after forward Jermaine Seoposenwe publicly criticized the coach for failing to protect the squad from administrative shortcomings by SAFA, particularly concerning player bonuses before major events.

Contract confirmation and strategy

Nevertheless, Ellis managed to overcome this turbulence and extend her contract. Given the lengthy negotiations regarding the new agreement, she enters the tournament with a strict mandate: to return to the Wafcon podium and secure her place in the next global event. During a press day at the AW Muller Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, Ellis emphasized that all team players are unanimously focused before departure.

Ellis stated: 'We had a meeting with the group and senior players, as we always do. They know what is at stake.' She added that she spoke with many players, and they all say the same thing: 'qualifying for the World Cup is the ultimate goal.' She also noted that past experience helps, and for other players, it will be their first time, so they need to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Squad and match preparation

Ellis has formed a preliminary squad of 31 players, combining youth and experienced athletes, which will be reduced to 26 people before leaving for Morocco on Saturday. The coach expects every player to meet expectations. In 16 days, 16 countries will fight for African glory.

Speaking about the pressure, Ellis added: 'It is always hard to tell someone what to expect when you cannot predict how they will react to pressure. But we always preach the idea of how important it is to rise to a new level. Ultimately, 11 people take the field, but the entire squad must be ready to contribute.'

Familiarization with Moroccan conditions

This trip marks Banyana's third participation in Wafcon in Morocco, following a victorious debut in 2022 and a poor performance last year. Thanks to this familiarity, Ellis hopes her team will easily adapt to the local conditions. She clarified that although they are not staying in the same locations as before (first time - Oudjda, second - Rabat, and now the base is in Casablanca), Morocco remains Morocco, just as South Africa is South Africa. The team is accustomed to the environment, knows it will be hot and conditions will be tough, but they are planning for it, so the departure is scheduled for Saturday to give them enough time to acclimatize.

Group opponents analysis

Banyana desperately seeks to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, building on their debut in 2019 and successful playoff run in 2023. However, before looking towards Brazil, they must pass the Wafcon group stage and win the decisive quarter-final match. Ellis studied their group opponents: Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire.

The coach analyzed the opponents, noting that Tanzania will likely want to play football, while Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire are very physical teams. She added that they have played against physical teams a lot over the past year, both at Wafcon and during qualifiers. The team knows that opponents will try to use long balls, and they are training intensively to counter this. Ellis concluded that despite all the preparation, football comes down to execution on match day. She reminded them that they always said that if they kept a 'clean sheet' (did not concede a goal), they would create chances, and now they need to be clinical in front of goal when those opportunities arise.

Former England forward Michael Owen urged Thomas Tuchel to start Bukayo Saka in the upcoming World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday. Owen argues that the Arsenal player possesses unique qualities that can intimidate South American opponents from the very beginning of the match.

Tactical recommendations for facing Argentina

Owen suggested that Chelsea winger Noni Madueke should give way to the injured but now recovered talisman of Arsenal. England advanced to the final four after a tense 2-1 victory over Norway in extra time in Miami, while Argentina moved forward after a tough 3-1 win over Switzerland in overtime.

The upcoming match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta promises to be another bright chapter in one of the most iconic and deeply rooted football battles, where the spot in Sunday's World Cup final against Spain is at stake.

Key to Argentina's defense

In Owen's opinion, bringing in Saka is the only key tactical adjustment Tuchel should make. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward believes that Saka's natural speed, technical skill, and ability to dominate one-on-one duels could prove decisive against the Argentine defensive line, which showed vulnerability when stretched on the flanks.

Saka has already demonstrated his immense value during the campaign, influencing games through his direct running and off-the-ball intelligence. Owen told British media: 'It is obvious that Saka is returning from injury and gradually coming back to the tournament, but my feeling is that Saka will play in the starting lineup in this match. It is too important a game not to have him in the squad.'

Owen believed that the 'Three Lions' should adopt a bolder attacking philosophy if they want to successfully overthrow the reigning world champion. Furthermore, he believes that Saka's internal connection with captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham will provide England with much greater attacking cohesion in the final third.

Counter-attack opportunities and Tuchel's position

Since it is expected that Lionel Scaloni's team will monopolize possession for long periods, Owen stressed that England must ruthlessly exploit every transition and counter-attacking opportunity. Nevertheless, the German coach keeps his cards strictly secret. He insists that his players are focused solely on the immediate tactical tasks of the 90 minutes, rather than on the historical rivalry between the two nations.

The England national team coach constantly praises the great cohesion of his 26-man squad and firmly resists calls to reveal his starting lineup before the official team announcements in Atlanta. It remains unclear whether Tuchel will heed Owen's advice, but on such a grand stage, every squad decision will be subject to intense global scrutiny.