It was an important outing for the side two-and-a-half months out from the 2026 World Cup, and they will face the same opponents again in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Some players stood out, while for others it was a tough evening. Here are three players who impressed, and three who will be looking to make amends in the Mother City.
Top performers
Oswin Appollis
The Orlando Pirates winger has been Bafana’s form player for some time now and added an eighth international goal in the last 16 months with a good finish. No other player has scored more for the team over that period. He should have had a few assists too, and while he did see an early chance saved by the goalkeeper, it was another superb outing in the national team jersey. The 24-year-old can grow even more as a player.
Khulumani Ndamane
The 22-year-old centre-back was part of an unfamiliar pairing alongside the inexperienced Ime Okon, who is the same age. It was in many ways a gamble for coach Hugo Broos to play the two together, but he is obviously saving Nkosinathi Sibisi and Mbekezeli Mbokazi for Cape Town. Ndamane was excellent though and, along with the rest of the defence, limited Panama to just two chances all game, one of which they scored from. Ndamane is already a fine player, but as he matures he can become a real stand-out for the country.
Themba Zwane
The veteran came in for his first cap since October 2024 and it was like he had never been away. Flicks and tricks, most with an end product, along with some intelligent use of the ball. He lasted an hour before coming off, but it was surely enough to convince that he should be on the plane to the World Cup. He is simply an outstanding talent who can still deliver at the highest level.
Need to pull up their socks
Lyle Foster
It was not Foster’s night. He had a succession of chances that he missed, and no-one looked more frustrated by that fact than him. Sometimes the touch and feel for a game is just not there. But he remains Bafana’s leading striker and showed his quality by getting into the right positions. The goals will come, and he was also thwarted by some excellent goalkeeping.
Khuliso Mudau
Mudau is Bafana’s number one right-back for sure, but for some time there has been a sloppiness creeping into his play that he will need to cut out before the World Cup. He gave away possession that led to the Panama goal, and while he also grabbed an assist with a clever header into the path of Appollis for his goal, he will always be judged on his defending. He essentially tried the hardest pass when other options were available. Sometimes simple is best.
Sphephelo Sithole
Back on home soil in Durban, Sithole would have wanted to impress, but there was also sloppiness in his play that got the side into trouble on a few occasions. Thalente Mbatha came on in the second half and immediately the passing range and control were better. Sithole has a lot of fine attributes, but he looked a little caught out by the pace of the game on Friday, which is a worry.