Bafana Bafana starting 11 vs Panama

Bafana Bafana and Panama square up again after last Friday’s 1-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Coach Hugo Broos has made four changes, Khulumani Ndamane, Sphephelo Sithole, Oswin Appollis and Themba Zwane have made way.

In come Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Jayden Adams, Relebohile Mofokeng and Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

BAFANA BAFANA VS PANAMA STARTING LINE UPS

South Africa starting 11: Williams, Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba, Mokoena, Adams, Moremi, Mofokeng, Hlongwane, Foster.

Substitutes: Leaner, Goss, Sithole, Maseko, Zwane, Kabini, Ndamane, Mbatha, Appollis, Sibisi, Makgopa, Matuludi

Panama starting 11: Mosquera, Cordoba, Rodriguez, Carrasquilla, Barria, Diaz, Ramos, Harvey, Guiterrez, Godoy, Murillo.

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SOUTH AFRICA RETURN TO THE WORLD CUP

Bafana Bafana are officially heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the draw has given them a proper test. They’ve been placed in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and a European play-off winner.

The tournament starts with a big one. Bafana open their campaign against co-hosts Mexico on 11 June 2026 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It’s a familiar fixture too, a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener, when South Africa faced the same opponents on home soil.

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Their second group game comes on 18 June in the USA, where they’ll take on the winner of European Play-off Path D at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That path includes the likes of Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, and North Macedonia, so there’s no easy route there.

Bafana Bafana then wrap up their group stage back in Mexico, facing South Korea on 24 June at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.