How Bafana Bafana could lineup against Panama

Bafana Bafana take on Panama in two friendlies this month as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The first friendly will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday evening, while the second match is scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The last time Bafana were in action was back in January when they went down 2-1 to Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.

With the World Cup just over two months away, Bafana head coach Hugo Broos had made changes to the squad which featured at the last tournament. Sipho Chaine, Bathusi Aubaas and Siyabonga Ngezana are some of the players who missed out on selection.

How can Bafana lineup against Panama on Friday?

Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams

The 34-year-old is the only player in the Bafana squad assured of his place in the team. He has been South Africa’s first-choice keeper since the 2019 AFCON and is set to captain the national team in June in Mexico/US and Canada.

Defenders: Khuliso Mudau, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Khulumani Ndamane and Aubrey Mothiba

With Mbekezeli Mbokazi expected to miss the first friendly match, Broos might opt to pair Sibisi and Ndamane at the back. It seems unlikely that Ime Okon will get a start on Friday ahead of either Bhodlela or Ndamane.

Midfield: Thalente Mbatha and Teboho Mokoena

Mbatha has been in great form for the Buccaneers this season and could slot in the middle of the park with Mokoena. Panama are a physical team, so having three midfielders might also be an option for Bafana and Siphephelo Sithole might also get a start if Broos decides on three midfielders.

Attackers: Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshepang Moremi and Lyle Foster

Lyle Foster is almost certain to start for Bafana as well as Oswin Appollis on the left wing. Moremi might only start if Broos wants him on the right side but Thapelo Maseko is more effective in that position than the Pirates star.

Mofokeng will play the number 10 position, but don’t be surprised to see him drifting on the left side now and then.

Friday’s match against Panama will give Broos an indication of how far his team are in terms of preparation but irrespective of results, Bafana players will need to fight for their spot.

Can Bafana win on Friday?

Les Lions Indomptables ont effectué leur dernière séance d'entraînement ce jeudi. C’est en vue de la première rencontre du tournoi FIFA Series 2026. En effet, ils affrontent l’Australie ce vendredi au stade Accor de Sydney. Avec un groupe de 25 joueurs sur les 26 convoqués, David Pagou veut faire bonne impression. Le technicien est resté

L’article David Pagou : « le rendu à l’issue de cette ultime séance est positif » est apparu en premier sur Camfoot.com.

International financial services firm Mukuru has explained the objective of its sponsorship of the Nations Tournament scheduled for Botswana.

The week-long competition will pool the hosts the Zebras, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe from March 28 to 31.

Pasuwa has handed maiden senior national team call-ups to defenders Dan Sandukira, Hermas Masinja and Charles Mafaiti, as well as forward Wallace Adam.

Read More : https://t.co/9wjp4fyoiG pic.twitter.com/3h9hDZlKC0

— FA Malawi (@FaMalawi) March 5, 2026

Ahead of the tournament, the Zimbabwe Football Association announced Mukuru as the headline sponsor.

Mukuru and Four Nations Tournament synergy

In an interview with Pan-Africa Football, Rhett Delaney, Head of Brand & Product Marketing for Mukuru said the company is funding the competition to contribute to football development in the COSAFA block. Teams in the region often struggle to compete with the big boys of the continental partly due to ill preparations.

“As you know, three of these countries, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia, recently competed at the [Africa Cup of Nations] AFCON finals in Morocco. Mukuru takes great pride in this milestone, not only as a moment of achievement, but as a reflection of the region’s growing football potential,” Delaney said.

What Mukuru seeks to achieve

He said Mukuru hopes to help the participating teams prepare for the 2027 AFCON qualifying matches which are now in the preliminary phase.

“Building on this momentum, Mukuru is committed to playing a meaningful developmental role by supporting the continued growth of football across the SADC region, investing in opportunities that nurture talent, strengthen competition, and elevate the game at all levels,” he said.

Save for Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia were part of the 2025 AFCON finalists in Morocco.

However, the three teams struggled at the tournament where they failed to get past the group stage.

So average was the performance of the three teams they failed to register a win before they bowed out.

Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027) have come under sharp focus following a detailed inspection by Confederation of African Football (CAF), which revealed significant gaps in infrastructure readiness across all three co-host nations, including Kenya and Tanzania.

The February 2026 assessment, conducted by CAF’s safety and infrastructure experts, placed Uganda among countries still in a critical development phase, with none of its proposed competition venues meeting the required standards for hosting Africa’s biggest football tournament.

While Uganda continues to push forward with ambitious projects, the report highlights that the country’s AFCON infrastructure programme remains a blend of ongoing construction, redesign, and upgrades, leaving a tight timeline to meet CAF’s January 2027 deadline for full operational readiness.

Among the key venues, Hoima City Stadium, one of Uganda’s flagship projects, has already been structurally completed but faces major operational shortcomings.

CAF identified issues such as poor spectator segregation, inadequate dressing rooms, substandard media facilities and flawed internal movement systems that could disrupt matchday operations.

In Kampala, Mandela National Stadium also requires extensive redevelopment. Proposed works include structural expansion and partial reconstruction, but CAF has cautioned that the initial construction timelines are too long. Instead, a revised approach that speeds up completion before the end of 2026 has been strongly recommended.

Meanwhile, Akii Bua Stadium remains an unknown factor after it was not assessed during the inspection.

Beyond the match venues, Uganda’s training infrastructure paints an uneven picture. Several facilities, especially in Hoima, are either incomplete or fall short of CAF’s minimum standards. Key issues include poor pitch conditions, lack of certified lighting and incomplete player facilities.

Equally concerning is the support ecosystem required to host a tournament of this scale.

The report points to uncertainties around Hoima International Airport’s readiness, limited hotel capacity in the region and the need for improved road connectivity between Kampala and Hoima.

CAF has set August 2026 as the next major checkpoint, giving each co-host a narrow window to demonstrate tangible progress.

By then, Uganda is expected to show:

• Significant completion of stadium works
• Installation of critical systems like lighting, security, and communication
• Upgraded and certified training facilities
• Improved transport, accommodation, and airport readiness

The period from March to August is described as decisive, with governments required to confirm funding and accelerate implementation across all sectors.

Across the region, the CAF report indicates a similar trend. None of the three host nations currently has a fully compliant stadium, although Tanzania appears slightly ahead structurally despite facing logistical complexities across multiple host cities.

Kenya, like Uganda, is balancing between new construction and upgrades, with key facilities still far from completion.

With the next CAF inspection looming, Uganda’s AFCON 2027 dream now hinges on rapid execution and coordinated planning.

The coming months will determine whether the country can transform its promising projects into tournament-ready facilities or risk falling short on the continental stage.

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