Overview
- The 23-man squad, which gathered in Tshwane on Monday, will play Panama on Friday in Durban and on Tuesday in Cape Town.
- Coach Hugo Broos said the camp is a selection audit that weighs on-field form and professional conduct after a flat AFCON.
- Broos disclosed that Brazil asked for about $5 million and Argentina for €5 million, which SAFA said it could not afford given local ticket price limits.
- Panama sit around 33rd in FIFA’s rankings to South Africa’s roughly 60th, offering a style check useful for June’s opener against Mexico and for plans to adjust to Mexico’s altitude.
- Broos recalled Themba Zwane, Thapelo Maseko and Bongokuhle Hlongwane and left out Sipho Chaine and Sipho Mbule as he reshapes the group for the World Cup starting 11 June.