Panama Coach Christiansen Offers Honest Bafana Assessment

, , , ,

Panama coach Thomas Christiansen says the FIFA World Cup stage will present a far greater challenge than what his side and Bafana Bafana experienced against each other on Friday. Panama and South Africa played to a 1-1 draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban and are set to meet again in Cape Town on Tuesday.  Christiansen said he faced the kind of team he expected—well-organised, difficult to break down, and dangerous in the spaces his side tried to control. Despite that, he stressed that both teams must continue improving as they prepare for the much tougher demands of the World Cup

Read more

Broos – Foster Can Be Sometimes Lazy

, , ,

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has spoken candidly about Lyle Foster following criticism of the striker’s missed chances against Panama. South Africa drew 1-1 with the Central American side in their first of the two meetings at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.  The teams are set to face off again in a second friendly at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday, both aiming for a stronger showing. Broos praised his team’s overall performance, noting improvements compared to their AFCON displays earlier this year.  Addressing Foster’s outing, the coach admitted the Burnley forward has quality but can appear lazy at

Read more

Khune Makes Bold Bafana Prediction

, ,

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune believes Hugo Broos’ men can beat Panama 4-0 on Tuesday in Cape Town. Bafana will host the 34th-ranked nation in the second of their two friendly matches at DHL Stadium on Tuesday after drawing 1-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday. It was a wasteful outing for Bafana, who missed several good scoring opportunities while Panama scored from one of their two shots at goal. Khune reiterated the fact that Bafana were in top in Friday’s match, leading him to his bold prediction for Tuesday. “Remember Panama only got two chances from Bafana Bafana

Read more

Panama Coach Praises Bafana After Draw

, ,

Panama coach Thomas Christiansen has praised Bafana Bafana for their performance, admitting his side had some defensive issues. Panama are ranked 34th in the world, but Bafana dominated the play at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The visitors scored from one of their two shots, while Bafana were more wasteful. After the match, Christiansen admitted his side felt a bit jet-lagged and could’ve done much better in defense. “We tried to do our best, the trip has been long, the jet lag for many players,” he told SABC3. “You can see it also, a physical game, but we have to analyze why

Read more

Broos Reacts To Panama Draw

, , ,

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has insisted his team played a very good game against Panama but made a crucial mistake before Panama’s opener. Edgar Bárcenas opened the scoring for Panama in the first half after a misplaced pass by Khuliso Mudau while Oswin Appollis leveled the scoreline in the second half. After the final whistle, Broos was largely happy with his side’s display, but lamented the Panama opener as well as his side’s wastefulness in front of goal. “I think there was a very good team on the pitch, the South African team played a very good game,” he

Read more

Bafana & Panama Share Spoils in Durban

, , ,

Bafana Bafana and Panama played out into a 1-1 draw in their first meeting at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, with two sides still to meet in the rematch on Tuesday in Cape Town. Edgar Bárcenas opened the scoring for Panama in the first half before Oswin Appollis rattled the back in the second stanza to equal the scoreline. In the Bafana starting line-up, Ime Okon came in as a new inclusion in the defence pairing with Khulumani Ndamane, while Themba Zwane made his return to the side, taking up the number 10 role. Both teams had a relatively calm

Read more

Broos Explains Zwane Decision

, ,

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why he opted to start Themba Zwane in their international friendly against Panama on Friday evening. Zwane was selected behind Lyle Foster in attack, with Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi on either wing, despite his lack of starts at Sundowns since his return from injury. A bold call from Broos but he explained it’s due to see the level of the veteran playmaker who became a cornerstone of his starting line-up before injury struck. “I think the pnly surprise is that Themba is in the team, I think when he’s with us

Read more

Ronza Issues Warning About Panama

, , ,

Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has warned his charges to thread very carefully against Panama who can punish opponents when granted chances. The two sides face off in a first of two international friendlies at the Moses Mabhida Stadium this evening with the second meeting to be staged at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Africa has been pitted against co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and the UEFA Path D winner in Group A between Denmark or Czech Republic. Panama on the other hand, square up against Croatia, England and Ghana in Group L. Williams

Read more

Bafana & Panama Starting XIs Announced

, ,

Bafana Bafana and Panama have named their respective starting lineups for tonight’s friendly international at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. With the FIFA World Cup looming in 79 days, preparations are already in full swing, marked by this friendly encounter between Bafana and Panama, who will face each other twice, tonight and on Tuesday. Broos highlighted that this training camp’s primary focus is on observing player performance. Notably, Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Mbekezeli Mbokazi will miss this match due to travel commitments but may participate in the second match scheduled for Tuesday in Cape Town. Despite widespread criticism about the

Read more