South Africa women’s national team head coach Desiree Ellis has reacted to Jermaine Seoposenwe’s retirement plans.

The 31-year-old forward recently announced that she will retire from international football after the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals.

Seoposenwe helped Banyana Banyana clinch the 2022 WAFCON title in Morocco and also finish second in the 2018 edition in Ghana since making her international debut in 2010.

Ellis, a four-time CAF Women’s Coach of the Year – lauded Seoposenwe as a ‘fantastic servant’ and also pointed out that she would ‘respect’ the C.F. Monterrey Femenil star’s ‘decision’.

“Jermaine has been a fantastic servant, and whenever she has needed to step up, she stepped up and the 2022 WAFCON was that because she hadn’t played for us for more than a year due to visa issues,” Ellis told SAFA media.

“I just want to say to Jermaine ‘thank you for the service that you’ve given.’ I don’t think we can thank her enough for what she’s done, but when a player makes a decision, then you have to respect that.

“I’ve had conversations with Jermaine, so it wasn’t a surprise for me, but I have to respect the decision.”

Having scored 24 goals in 106 matches for Banyana, Seoposenwe is in the preliminary squad for the WAFCON, which is scheduled to be played in Morocco from 5-26 July 2025.