Hugo Broos pinpoints reasons for defensive frailties against Panama

Africa 02 April 2026 at 05:03

Hlayisani Magoro

News Editor

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has addressed his team's defensive frailties in the friendly matches against Panama.

South Africa played to a one-all draw with the Central American side in the first match, before falling to a 2-1 defeat in the subsequent tie on Tuesday night.

Broos' men made costly errors that led to goals in both matches, particularly failing to deal with set-pieces from Panama.

The Belgian mentor attributed the defensive lapses to the height of the players he fielded on the second match and the rotation of the team.

“Well, okay, we received two goals, we received one goal last Friday. It's a little bit different because Friday it was a mistake from our side, today [Tuesday] I think it was more about disorganisation on set-pieces,” Broos said.

"So, normally everyone knows what to do and what not to do but because with all those changes I think there was disorganisation. But it's also a question of power and the tall guys.

"We had a taller team on Friday, we had more taller and physical players on Friday. So, today my team was a little bit smaller and again I think that was the disadvantage today but it is a preparation game.

On the defeat to Panama, Broos says results were not imperative but the experience of playing against a team from a different continent was of grave importance, with just under three months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“For me, it was not so important to win that game. It was just to give an experience to the players that guys this is not Africa, this is not the teams from the countries of Africa,” the veteran tactician added.

"These are other countries with other physical possibilities, with other tactical possibilities, so, therefore, again I was very happy that we played those two games and it was an interesting game for me but I'm sure also for the players.