Broos demands improvement as Bafana start World Cup build-up

Coach Hugo Broos has told Bafana Bafana to return to their core principles as they ramp up their preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

South Africa will square off with Panama in back-to-back friendly games during the current international break. Their first meeting is on Friday night at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The games are a first for the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winners since their disappointing showing at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

Having finished third at the 2023 edition, South Africa were one of the pre-tournament favourites for the edition two years later. However, they never got going and were eventually eliminated in the round of 16 by Cameroon.

Following that exit, Broos admitted they lacked the discipline, mentality, and unity that had been at the core of their DNA over the last few years.

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“The only thing I want to see is the real Bafana Bafana,” the Belgian mentor said about expectations regarding the fixture.

“The Bafana Bafana team that we know from the past two years — the team that gave us good results, fantastic performances, qualification for AFCON, a third-place finish at AFCON, and qualification for the World Cup. We lost that a little bit three months ago at AFCON, so I hope to see that again tomorrow.

“A team that plays with passion, that is determined on the pitch, and that plays good football.

This is something that I hope to see again tomorrow.”

The scars of South Africa’s failed campaign in Morocco are still fresh, with captain Ronwen Williams admitting that they must win back Broos’ trust after failing to meet expectations.

“That is the conversation we have had — to bring the team back and return to the values that made us so successful over the last few years,” Williams said about rebuilding morale.

“And yes, we did let that go. We, as players, addressed it. The coach has addressed it. Now is the time to show that we have learned our lessons because it was a very painful lesson when expectations were so high.”

The games against the South American nation are being used to prepare South Africa for its FIFA World Cup opener against co-hosts Mexico on June 11, 2026.

Williams says the players need to display the right attitude after the coach warned that they must rediscover their identity or risk falling short on the global stage.

“The disappointment we had in Morocco, you could see it in the players,” he revealed.

“It took a very long time for players to feel normal again because we had high expectations, not only for ourselves but for the country as well. Now is the time to show that we can win back the trust of the coach because, obviously, we’ve let him down.

“We’ve built something very good over the last few years, and for us to lose it at such a crucial moment just shows that this game can humble you. I think that is the biggest lesson we took, to stick to the values that have carried us over the past few years and placed us among the best.”

It will be only the second-ever meeting between South Africa and Los Canaleros, following their first clash at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

However, they will go into Friday’s match without MLS-based players Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Bongokuhle Hlongwane. Broos has opted to rest them following the travel they’ve undertaken to return to South Africa.

“Hlongwane and Mbokazi will not play, and it is not a tactical decision, nor are they sick or injured,” the coach said ahead of the clash.

“They had a long trip, there is a seven-hour time difference, and those players need a bit of time to recover. But they will be available next Tuesday for the second game.”