Banyana's mental strength shone on day of history: 'We couldn't hear our anthem over the noise'

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis explained how her charges tuned into their deep mental reserves to see off the threat of Morocco in Saturday's Women's Africa Cup of Nation's final in Rabat.

At a raucous Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the Moroccan capital, Ellis said her team, who won through a brace scored by Hildah Magaia, tapped into their inner selves to deal with the host team.

Morocco scored a late goal, but the job had been done by the South Africans, who won their first ever Wafcon title after five other failed attempts.

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"We saw a sea of red, but I wasn't perturbed as I could see the focus of the players on their faces. They were focused," Ellis said.

"When we sang the national anthem, we couldn't hear it because of the noise, but we sang it with gusto and the players were determined.

"They showed that they wanted to win, they showed true Kasi flavour, the South African spirit, and the togetherness."

Ellis, who has suffered her fair share of Banyana disappointment at Wafcon level, said the ambition pact between the senior players and team management laid the platform for the flawless tournament effort.

The pact allowed the team to negotiate the pre-tournament injury of Gabriella Salgado and Thembi Kgatlana's mid-tournament ankle injury.

Ellis said the players were single-minded in their two goals of winning the tournament and qualifying for the World Cup.

"When I met and sat with the senior players in South Africa, I asked them what their ambition was and Jermaine said they wanted to win the tournament," Ellis said.

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"I said there was the small matter of