Mbokazi’s stunner not enough as Panama sink Bafana in Cape Town

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Mbokazi’s stunner not enough as Panama sink Bafana in Cape Town
Bafana defender Khuliso Mudau vies for the ball with Ismael Diaz of Panama.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi scored a stunning goal but it was not enough as Bafana Bafana suffered a 2-1 loss to Panama in Cape Town on Tuesday.

South Africa hosted the Central American side for the second time after a 1-1 draw in Durban on Friday with Tuesday’s match played at a sold-out DHL Stadium in the Mother City.

Just like on Friday, it was Panama who went ahead first when Jose Cordoba capitalised on some poor goalkeeping from Renaldo Leaner to score but Mbokazi settled the nerves with a rocket of a shot in the 64th minute.

Bafana vs Panama

However, poor defending on the set-piece allowed Panama to score again, Jiovany Ramos heading in to the astonishment of the 55,195 who attended the game.

The two teams had played out a goalless first half when Bafana Bafana hogged possession but with no end product with Relebohile Mofokeng creating chances for Lyle Foster, Tshepang Moremi and Bongokuhle Hlongwane but seeing them wasted.

Panama score first

South Africa’s first best chance of the first half fell to Foster when he was picked out by Khuliso Mudau with a beautiful ball in the box but he failed to connect well before the Panama goalkeeper closed in and sniffed out the danger.

The second one fell to Hlongwane after Mofokeng set him through on goal with a defence-splitting pass but he somehow fired wide when he had the goalkeeper to beat in the 42nd minute.

After the break, coach Hugo Broos made a couple of substitutions, bringing on Leaner for Ronwen Williams as Foster was replaced by Evidence Makgopa.

However, it was Panama celebrating the breakthrough after 58 minutes when Adalberto Alcazar’s freekick was not cleared by South Africa and the ball fell to Ismael Diaz, who fired at goal and Leaner got down to save but did not get a good grip of the ball.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi celebrates his goal for Bafana against Panama
Mbekezeli Mbokazi celebrates his goal for Bafana against Panama.

From the rebound, Cordoba reacted quickest to get the ball over the line at the near post. After the goal, Broos made three changes as he brought on Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis and Thapelo Maseko and shortly after, the changes paid off.

Bafana pay the price for poor defending

Zwane picked out Mbokazi free in midfield and the defender took a second touch, getting the ball on his favourite left foot, before unleashing a stunner into the roof of the net to send the stadium wild.

Ten minutes later, Evidence Makgopa should have scored the second for Bafana Bafana when he headed out Appollis’ cross and South Africa would pay dearly soon after.

Just a minute later, Panama got a corner which South Africa made a mess of and Puma crossed the ball in the box where Ramos headed in from close range to regain the lead.

Panama held on to win the game 2-1, leaving South Africa with a win and draw, with Broos left with plenty to ponder as he prepares for the 2026 World Cup.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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