The South African Football Association [SAFA] have confirmed their decision concerning the future of Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis following an NEC meeting on Tuesday.
Ellis has been the permanent head coach of the South African Senior Women’s Team since 2018, having also previously served in an interim capacity for two years.
Some of her major successes include winning the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON] in 2022. Under Ellis’ guidance, Banyana also advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But tere have been reports that Ellis has been working without a contract since July 2022. The 62-year-old was also linked with an exit from her duties as head coach.
DESIREE ELLIS REAPPOINTED AS HEAD COACH OF BANYANA BANYANA
In a statement on Wednesday evening, SAFA confirmed that Ellis has been offered a new four-year deal.
Meanwhile, the NEC also decided to officially recommend Molefi Ntseki for appointment as the association’s Technical Director to succeed Walter Steenbok.
“The SAFA Technical Committee recommended to the NEC that Molefi Ntseki should be appointed as the Association’s Technical Director and Desiree Ellis should be appointed as the coach of the South African Senior Women’s National Team, Banyana Banyana,” reads the statement.
MOLEFI NTSEKI ALSO BEGINS HIS TENURE AS THE SAFA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
“The Technical Committee recommended that they both be appointed on four-year contracts, and the NEC endorsed both recommendations.”
Ntseki has already had several engagements with FIFA, and the world football governing body has agreed to support his programmes.
“FIFA has appreciated the fact that the South African national teams are doing well with both the SA Under-17 and the U-20 teams participating in FIFA World Cup tournaments this year.”
Meanwhile, South Africa will face DR Congo in a WAFCON 2026 qualifier this month. The first leg is on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, and it is an away-from-home game. FNB Stadium in Johannesburg will host the second leg on 28 October 2025.
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