Cape Town buzzing as Bafana Bafana gets ready to take on Panama

Bafana Bafana gears up for their thrilling friendly against Panama at DHL Stadium, as excitement builds in Cape Town. Football fever, and more specifically Bafana Bafana mania, has gripped Cape Town ahead of the international friendly against Panama at the DHL Stadium tonight (kick-off 7.30pm). Not since the Fifa World Cup back in 2010 has the excitement levels in the Mother City reached such highs for the round-ball game.

The Panama friendly is the last international match Bafana are scheduled to play at home ahead of their departure for the Fifa World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada in June. It will be Bafana’s first appearance at the global football showpiece since hosting the tournament 16 years ago. Bafana last played in Cape Town two years ago when they beat South Sudan 3-0 in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Coach Hugo Broos remembers that night fondly and is excited with his team’s return after such a lengthy absence. “I was very happy with the opponent (Panama), but I was maybe even happier that we played the second game here in this (Cape Town) stadium,” Broos told the media in Cape Town on Monday.