Victorious Banyana coach Ellis did not want to attend CAF Awards: 'The team wanted me to go'

Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis revealed that she had no intention of attending the 2022 CAF Awards on Thursday, but her team twisted her hand and changed her mind.

The legendary midfielder was crowned Women's Coach of the Year for a third successive time in Rabat, Morocco and was seated alongside Senegal star and recipient of the Men's Player of the Year Sadio Mane at the prestigious event.

She did not want to attend the ceremony as Banyana prepare for Saturday's Women's Africa Cup of Nations final against host nation Morocco.

The time for attending the award show clashed with Banyana's training on Thursday, but Ellis put her faith in the technical team to oversee the session.

"Look, we have a very important game coming up and I didn't really want to go, but the team wanted me to go," she expressed via Banyana's media department.

"I trust the people I work with - they took the session and it went absolutely magnificent, while I could go there and represent them.

"It is an individual award, but it is also not an individual award because we play in a team sport. This would not have been possible without my team [and] the staff of Banyana.

"It's an award that I received on behalf of everyone."

The final on Saturday will kick-off at 22:00 (SA time) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.