Bafana Bafana were held to a 1-1 draw by Panama in the first of their back-to-back Fifa World Cup preparatory friendlies at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night. Despite dominating the passage of play, Bafana were let down by their bluntness up front and costly individual mistakes.
With the next game scheduled for the DHL Stadium on Tuesday night, coach Hugo Broos will hope that they are clinical and rock solid. That, however, should be aided by the fact that they’ll have both Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Bongokuhle Hlongwane available after the MLS-based duo was rested in Durban.
Bafana Bafana Performance
Bafana, kitted in their new jersey, came into this match eager to make up for their disastrous Afcon campaign, and coach Broos went for the jugular, including handing a returning start to Themba Zwane, who had been away from the national team due to injuries. Zwane, who has been carefully managed at Mamelodi Sundowns and handed cameos, did not look out of place.
He was the pivot around which Bafana revolved in the opening stages as they looked threatening with every foray into the final third. The 36-year-old’s efforts did not bear fruit. Bafana attacker Lyle Foster did not get into the right scoring channels or was waved offside, including after bypassing goalkeeper Luis Mejía.
Key Players
Zwane and Co did not drop their heads in search of the lead, but Mejía stood in Bafana’s way, also blocking Oswin Appollis’s shot from close range following another beautiful passage of football from the hosts. The visitors, meanwhile, did not need ample opportunities to find the breakthrough.
Edgar Bárcenas intercepted Khuliso Mudau’s backpass before tossing and turning Sphephelo Sithole to create space and hit a low, hard shot past Ronwen Williams. Bafana, with the influence of Zwane, did not drop their heads, with Tshepang Moremi — who was earlier cautioned for simulation — coming close to grabbing the equaliser, only for his effort to sail wide of the target.
Mejía was forced off due to an injury and replaced by Orlando Mosquera. The incoming goalie continued where the former left off, blocking Foster’s close-range effort after a well-worked move. Bafana will need to be at their best to get over Panama, who have a similar style of play to their World Cup opening game opponents, Mexico, as a victory will boost their confidence heading into their last preparations in May.
Panama, meanwhile, must have been impressed by Bafana’s performance, which provided a true test ahead of their World Cup group stage campaign that includes the African side, Ghana. The Black Stars were well represented for this match, with a handful of their fans proving a strong attraction in the stands.
- Bafana Bafana will face Panama again on Tuesday night
- The match will be played at the DHL Stadium
- Bafana will be looking to improve their clinical finishing
