'Not all is lost,' says coach Ellis as Banyana hope Sweden do the Italian job

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis and her charges have no option but to claim maximum points in their final group game against Italy in Wellington on Wednesday.

The South African national women's team spurned a golden opportunity to make up some ground in Group G when they drew 2-2 against Argentina in Dunedin on Friday.

Banyana had been leading 2-0 until they allowed the South Americans to come back in the second half and claim a crucial point.

Argentina will be facing Sweden at the same time on Wednesday.

South Africa need the Swedes to beat Italy by two clear goals to keep the latter's goal difference to -1.

READ | Banyana coach rues another World Cup lead slipping away: 'This one hurts more'

"We have to win," Ellis said on Friday.

"It also depends on the result between Sweden and Italy, but we can only do what we can do.

"This game was a great opportunity to put ourselves a step ahead, but not all is lost.

"We need to go back and regroup, even though we have a short turnaround. We've put ourselves in this position by not taking our chances and not being sounder at the back."

Allowing Argentina to come back from 2-0 down after Linda Mothlalo and Thembi Kgatlana drove SA's belligerent opening 70 minutes remained a source of pain for Ellis.

Ellis, who played in an era where few spots were available for African teams, while also having to deal with the powerhouse that is Nigeria, said she needed to keep believing, especially for those players who showed up.

Kgatlana, Mothlalo, and Refiloe Jane were impressive for the women's national team, which prompted Ellis to praise her team's ability to adapt to the demands of the game they, frustratingly, didn't win.

"I'm still hurt and disappointed, but I have to believe," Ellis said.

"It