“We Created Enough to Win” — Broos Reacts as Bafana Held by Panama Despite Dominance in Durban

South Africa national football team head coach Hugo Broos believes his side did enough to secure victory after playing out a 1–1 draw against Panama in an international friendly on Friday night.

The match, held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, formed part of South Africa’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It was the visitors who took the early initiative, with Édgar Bárcenas giving Panama the lead in the 23rd minute.

Despite going behind, Bafana Bafana maintained their composure and continued to push forward, creating several opportunities before the halftime break but failing to convert.

South Africa’s persistence paid off shortly after the restart when Oswin Appollis brought the hosts level in the 48th minute.

The forward finished clinically following a well-worked move, injecting renewed energy into the home side as they looked to complete the turnaround in front of an enthusiastic Durban crowd.

Bafana Bafana dominated large spells of the match and created the better chances overall, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third denied them a winning goal.

Broos admitted after the match that finishing was the only real disappointment on an otherwise encouraging night.

“I think we had nine chances today. That’s maybe the only negative point – we didn’t score enough compared to the chances we had,” Broos said.

“But for the rest, it was good football, good combinations, using the space, creating space and creating chances. I’m very happy with the performance.”

Bafana Bafana were held to a 1-1 draw by Panama in an international friendly at the Moses Mabhida Stadium (Image: Bafana Bafana)

The draw extends South Africa’s preparations as they build toward their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. The two nations are set to meet again in a return fixture on Tuesday at the DHL Cape Town Stadium.

While the result may not have matched expectations, the performance offered positives for Broos and his technical team, particularly in terms of chance creation and overall play.

As attention turns to Cape Town, Bafana Bafana will be aiming to convert promise into victory – and ensure their preparations translate into results when it matters most.