South Africa vs Panama: Time and where to watch

Bafana Bafana are set to play two international friendlies against Panama as part of their preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The first of the two matches against the Central American side will take place at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday and the second at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday. Having secured their first World Cup qualification in 24 years, South Africa will use these games to fine-tune their strategy ahead of the global tournament.

Importance of Panama friendly

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos emphasised the importance of these fixtures in his team’s build-up, highlighting the value of facing a team with a different style of play.

“It was the right decision to choose Panama to play two international games here in South Africa,” Broos stated. “We will learn a lot about the middle American style of playing football.”

While the Belgian coach is focused on performance and learning, he downplayed the significance of the final scoreline. He noted that the primary goal is to regain the team’s identity, which he felt was missing during the recent Africa Cup of Nations.

Impact of victory on Bafana

Ranked in the world’s top 35, Panama is expected to provide a stern test for the hosts. A positive outcome for Broos’s men would not only boost morale but could also improve their FIFA ranking just under three months before the World Cup kicks off.

Time and where to watch

The match in Durban will kick off at 19:00 and will be live on SABC 3. Fans can also follow live updates on the Bafana Bafana social media pages.