No Mbokazi or Hlongwane for Bafana Bafana On Friday night. The MLS stars will sit out the first clash against Panama at Moses Mabhida Stadium to recover from their long travels. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Chicago Fire and Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi will sit out the first of two international friendly against Panama, with the opening match scheduled for Friday evening at Moses Mabhida Stadium (kick-off 7pm).
The fixtures will form part of Bafana Bafana’s preparations for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, where they will open their tournament against co-hosts Mexico in June. The competition is also jointly hosted by the US and Canada.
This will be Hugo Broos’ first opportunity to assess his squad since a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, which ended in a round of 16 exit following a 2–1 defeat to Cameroon.
Hugo Broos named a strong squad for both friendlies but confirmed that Mbokazi and fellow MLS-based player Bongokuhle Hlongwane will miss the opening match due to travel-related factors.
“We have had a good week behind us,” Broos said ahead of the match.
“I am very happy with what I saw in training. The players are motivated to get a good result tomorrow. We know it will be a tough opponent. On the other side, it is good preparation for us for the game against Mexico in three months’ time.”
“Hlongwane and Mbokazi will not play, and it is not a tactical decision, nor are they sick or injured. They had a long trip, there is a seven-hour time difference, and those guys need a little bit of time to recover, but they will be there next Tuesday for the second game.”
While the results of the two friendlies may not carry significant weight, their value lies in the opportunity they present for preparation. With limited matches remaining before the World Cup begins, the games will be crucial for Broos to assess performances, build cohesion, and begin narrowing down his squad.
“Is the result important? Certainly, the result is important — it is always important — but the most important thing for me, besides the result, is the performance of the team.
“If we can have a good game tomorrow and win that game, it will give us a boost of confidence and belief in ourselves, something that we need after the disappointing AFCON. I am confident and believe that we are ready for the game.”
* Obakeng Meletse is Independent Media’s multi-sport writer. For fresh video content, follow our YouTube channel The Clutch