Desiree EllisBackpagepix

2017 Caf award is South Africa women's first ever honour - Desiree Ellis

South Africa women head coach Desiree Ellis has described Thursday's Best National Women's Team of the Year award as their 'first ever' honour on the continent.

Ellis led Banyana Banyana to emerge the COSAFA Women's Cup champions for a record four-time after they edged hosts Zimbabwe 2-1 in the final in September 2017.

The regional success saw them pip Nigeria U20 and Ghana U20 to the Caf best African national women side's prize at the Awards Gala held at the Accra International Centre.

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And the gaffer, who saw her side finish fourth at the 2016 Africa Women's Cup of Nations, is pleased with their impressive 2017 outing credited the success to the support of all.

"It's huge for us all. It's our [Banyana] first African award as a team ever," Ellis told Goal.

"I'm completely overwhelmed and blessed but we all did. Banyana players and coaches, our sponsors Sasol and Safa and all the fans, which have always, support us. This is for South Africa."

She believes Banyana Banyana can record their biggest achievement ever by qualifying for their first ever Women's World Cup in France next year in Ghana later in the year.

"It's a big year 2018. We are starting with Sweden and then qualification for the 2018 African Women's Cup of Nations," she continued.

"Any team going to AWCON want to win it and we are no different but if we fall short. Then we will want to make sure that we get one of those three places to go the 2019 Women's World Cup in France and that would be the biggest accolade for South African women's football."

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