South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis has praised the resilience and overall performance of Ghana’s Black Queens, despite her side’s 2-0 victory in their Group C opener at the Stade Honneur.

The match marked a strong start for Ellis and her Banyana Banyana side as they began their title defence with a win.

Speaking after the game, Ellis acknowledged the threat posed by the Black Queens and commended their fighting spirit.

“Take nothing away from Ghana, they are still a quality side,” she said.

“The first 15 minutes could have changed the game if we had conceded, but we stuck in and around, took control, and got the results that we wanted.”

Banyana Banyana will now turn their focus to their next Group C fixture against Tanzania, scheduled for Friday, 11th July, as they aim to book a spot in the next round of the competition.